New poll shows Democrats leading, Trump’s approval sinks amid gas concerns

Pain at the pump has become the dominant political warning sign in a new NPR, PBS News and Marist poll, with more than 8 in 10 Americans saying gas prices were straining their household budgets and a strong majority blaming President Donald Trump for the surge. The survey, taken April 27-30 among 1,322 respondents, showed economic frustration cutting through the campaign fog as the war in Iran pushed fuel costs higher and sharpened voter anger over everyday expenses.

That pressure translated into a clear partisan edge. Democrats led Republicans by 10 points on the congressional ballot test, and the poll found Democrats holding the enthusiasm advantage heading into the midterms. That matters because turnout is usually thinner in midterm elections than in presidential years, and the survey also showed that independents and several key blocs were not highly fired up, leaving the final result open to whoever can turn economic anxiety into votes.

Trump’s standing looked worse still. Just 37% of respondents approved of the job he was doing overall, while 59% disapproved. Fifty-one percent strongly disapproved, tying his worst Marist result across both terms in office. The numbers underscored how sharply his political fortunes have changed since February 2025, when Marist polling found 88% approval and only 10% disapproval among Republicans.

The decline has not been confined to one region or one group. Trump has seen major losses among voters in the South, lower-income Americans, white men, women without college degrees, Millennials, men, parents of children under 18, rural voters, men in small cities and suburbs, white evangelical Christians, and crossover voters, including younger people and many Black and Latino voters. Those shifts suggest that economic pain is testing loyalties that once seemed durable.

The latest numbers also fit a broader pattern. A November 2025 NPR, PBS News and Marist poll had already shown Democrats with a 14-point lead on the congressional ballot question, while Trump’s approval on the economy stood at just 39%. The new poll suggests that concerns over affordability, especially gas prices, have only intensified since then. With the margin now narrowing to a 10-point Democratic lead, the fight over who gets blamed for higher costs has become one of the clearest forces reshaping the midterm landscape.