A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll found 71% of U.S. adults consider gasoline unaffordable, while Democrats held an edge on economic trust as voters approach Nov. 3 congressional elections.
The poll recorded 33% approval of President Donald Trump’s job performance and 66% disapproval, including 52% who strongly disapproved. His approval was four percentage points below the July result and eight points below October 2025. Separately, 28% approved of his handling of the economy and 70% disapproved.
Asked which party would do a better job on the economy, 37% of all U.S. adults selected Democrats and 28% selected Republicans. Another 29% said neither party, 5% said the parties would do equally well and 1% did not answer. In a separate result among registered voters, Democrats led Republicans 40% to 33%. The Washington Post reported that this was the first Democratic lead among registered voters in its economy polling since 2014. The two sets of figures cover different populations.
The poll also found 71% considered gasoline unaffordable, up from 28% in February. The Washington Post linked pressure on household fuel costs to supply and shipping disruptions caused by the Iran war.
Ipsos surveyed 2,545 U.S. adults through its KnowledgePanel between Oct. 9 and 13; the margin of sampling error for the full sample was 2 percentage points. The poll’s party-trust question and its measure of Trump’s economic handling reflect separate views: one asks which party would do better, while the other records approval of the president’s performance.
The Washington Post said the survey does not predict outcomes in individual House or Senate races. The Federal Election Commission lists Nov. 3, 2026, as the general election date, and USAGov says all 435 House seats and about one-third of Senate seats will be contested.
