AP-NORC poll: voters favour Democrats on costs and economy but distrust both parties
An AP-NORC poll ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms finds registered voters prefer Democrats on the cost of living and the economy. Few say either party can solve problems or is focused on people like them.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2A new Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll finds that, ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, registered voters favour Democrats over Republicans on key issues such as the cost of living and the economy. The IndependentLC “Over a matter of months, Democrats have established a distinct lead on key issues including healthcare and the cost of living.” Read at The Independent ↗ Washington ExaminerR “Voters are favoring Democrats over Republicans on the economy and cost of living” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Mixed · 2On the cost of living, 38% of registered voters said Democrats would do better, against 27% who said Republicans; the Washington Examiner adds that another 27% said neither party would do a good job. The IndependentLC “38% of registered voters say the Democrats would be better for costs, compared with 27% who say that about the Republicans.” Read at The Independent ↗ Washington ExaminerR “Another 27% said neither party would do a good job” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Left · 1About 4 in 10 registered voters now pick Democrats on the economy, compared with 26% of U.S. adults in February. The Independent says the cost-of-living question was about evenly split among U.S. adults in February, at about 3 in 10 for each party. The IndependentLC “About 4 in 10 registered voters now pick the Democrats, compared with 26% of U.S. adults in February.”“The issue was about evenly split among U.S. adults in February, with about 3 in 10 saying each party would be better.” Read at The Independent ↗
Mixed · 2Despite this lead, confidence in both parties is low: only about 2 in 10 registered voters say that "able to solve important problems" or "focused on helping people like me" describes either party extremely or very well. The IndependentLC “Only about 2 in 10 registered voters say that "able to solve important problems" or "focused on helping people like me" describes the Democratic Party "extremely" or "very" well.” Read at The Independent ↗ Washington ExaminerR “Only about 2 in 10 voters said either party is focused on helping people like them or is able to solve important problems.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Right · 1The Washington Examiner reports that 55% of registered voters said the Republican Party is not able to solve important problems, and 48% said the same of Democrats. Washington ExaminerR “Fifty-five percent of registered voters said the Republican Party is not able to solve important problems, while 48% said the same of Democrats.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Mixed · 2Republicans fare worse on perceived priorities: about 6 in 10 registered voters say "focused on helping rich and powerful people" describes the Republican Party extremely or very well, compared with about 3 in 10 for Democrats (32%, per the Examiner). The Examiner adds that nearly half say "corrupt" describes Republicans, against 37% for Democrats. The IndependentLC “about 6 in 10 registered voters say the phrase "focused on helping rich and powerful people" describes the Republican Party "extremely" or "very" well.” Read at The Independent ↗ Washington ExaminerR “Nearly half of voters also said the word “corrupt” describes the Republican Party “extremely” or “very” well, compared with 37% for Democrats.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗
Mixed · 2Fifty-five percent of registered voters call the Republican Party "too extreme" and 45% say the same of Democrats; the Examiner adds that 68% describe President Donald Trump as too extreme, including about one-third of Republicans. The IndependentLC “55% of registered voters say the Republican Party is "too extreme." Some 45% say the same about the Democratic Party.” Read at The Independent ↗ Washington ExaminerR “Sixty-eight percent of registered voters described Trump as “too extreme,” including about one-third of Republicans.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Mixed · 2The poll also shows division among Democrats: slightly fewer than half of Democratic voters (46%, per the Examiner) say their party is too moderate, and a similar share say it is about right, while Republican voters mostly say their party is about right. The IndependentLC “Slightly fewer than half of Democratic voters say their party is "too moderate," while a similar share say it is "about right."” Read at The Independent ↗ Washington ExaminerR “Forty-six percent of Democratic voters said their party is too moderate” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Left · 1The Independent adds context and voices: it notes the government partially shut down twice in the past year, says Democrats' lack of power may feed the sense they cannot solve problems, and quotes voters such as Virginia tour guide Aaron Siever, who said "neither side seems able to fix them", and Milwaukee broker Meagan Ludwig, who wants bolder policies from Democrats. The IndependentLC “In the last year alone, the federal government partially shut down twice for weeks because of partisan disputes in Congress”“"There's big problems and neither side seems able to fix them."” Read at The Independent ↗
Right · 1The Washington Examiner places the poll in the midterm outlook: the Cook Political Report moved 15 House races toward Democrats in September, Democrats hold 215 House seats and need a net gain of three for a majority, and Cook estimates a gain of five to 15 seats. It also cites a New York Times/Siena poll showing Democratic Senate candidates tied or ahead in some states Trump won by 11 to 16 points in 2024. Washington ExaminerR “Democrats currently hold 215 House seats and need a net gain of three to reach a majority. Cook estimates Democrats could gain between five and 15 seats.”“Democratic Senate candidates tied or ahead of their Republican opponents in states Trump won by between 11 and 16 percentage points in 2024.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Right · 1The AP-NORC poll was conducted Sept. 24 to 28 among 2,140 U.S. adults, including 1,766 registered voters. Washington ExaminerR “The AP-NORC poll was conducted Sept. 24 to 28 among 2,140 U.S. adults, including 1,766 registered voters.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Leads with voter cynicism toward the whole political system, illustrated by individual voters, while noting Republicans face deeper dissatisfaction.
- Emphasis
- Doubts that Democrats have people's problems in mind; frustration with partisanship; Democratic soul-searching in Wisconsin; shutdowns and Biden-era unmet goals.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Leaves out the Examiner's figures on Trump being 'too extreme', the 'corrupt' ratings, and the Cook and Times/Siena midterm projections.
- Charged language
- “deep dissatisfaction”“pervasive cynicism”
- For example
-
“While voters expressed deep dissatisfaction with Republicans, the survey suggests voters have relatively little confidence Democrats have their problems in mind” — The Independent
“This pervasive cynicism poses a significant hurdle for both Democrats and Republicans” — The Independent
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Short, data-led report that Democrats lead on economy and affordability but that voters trust neither party, then moves to midterm forecasts bad for Republicans.
- Emphasis
- Numbers on inability to solve problems, 'corrupt' and Trump being 'too extreme', and Cook and Times/Siena projections; gives methodology details.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Omits individual voter voices, the shutdown context and the Independent's point that Democrats' lack of power may affect perceptions.
- Charged language
- “bleak for Republicans”
- For example
-
“Voters are favoring Democrats over Republicans on the economy and cost of living, but large shares of the public say they do not trust either party to solve the country’s problems” — Washington Examiner
“Projections for the Senate are looking similarly bleak for Republicans.” — Washington Examiner
What every side reports
- The AP-NORC poll shows registered voters prefer Democrats on cost of living, 38% to 27%.
- About 4 in 10 registered voters now favour Democrats on the economy.
- Only about 2 in 10 voters say either party can solve problems or is focused on people like them.
- 55% call the Republican Party too extreme, versus 45% for Democrats.
- Democratic voters are split on whether their party is too moderate.
Democratic Party party
Democrats lead on cost of living and the economy, but are not seen as more focused on ordinary people or better at solving problems; the party is divided over whether it is too moderate.
“Democrats are less likely to be described as corrupt or focused on the wealthy than are Republicans, but not more likely to be seen as focused on ordinary people or capable of solving problems.” — The Independent
“The poll also found divisions within the Democratic Party.” — Washington Examiner
Republican Party party
Republicans trail on the economy and costs and are more often seen as extreme and focused on the wealthy, though their voters mostly say the party is about right.
“Republican voters, who mostly say their party is "about right."” — The Independent
“Republicans were more likely than Democrats to be viewed as focused on wealthy and powerful people.” — Washington Examiner
Left1 article
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Poll reveals voters favor Democrats on key issues as many lack faith in either party
Mixed Frames the poll as a story of widespread voter disillusionment, harsher on Republicans but sceptical of Democrats too, with personal voter anecdotes.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
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Voters back Democrats on economic and affordability issues but trust neither party: Poll
Neutral Concise numbers-driven account pairing the poll with midterm forecasts that point to Republican losses.
- 3 Oct 16:27 First The IndependentLC Poll reveals voters favor Democrats on key issues as many lack faith in either party
- 3 Oct 21:29 +5h 2m Washington ExaminerR Voters back Democrats on economic and affordability issues but trust neither party: Poll
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.