Most U.S. Voters Want ‘Total Upheaval’ In The Way The Country is Run, Poll Shows

With less than three weeks until the November midterm elections, Americans are sending Washington a message that they want to fundamentally change how the country is governed, and neither political party has convinced them it can deliver.

A new survey from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, released Thursday, found that roughly eight in 10 voters believe the United States needs either "substantial change" or "complete upheaval" in how it is run.

About half favor substantial change, while approximately three in 10 want what the poll describes as "complete and total upheaval." The findings suggest that frustration with Washington is not confined to one political party or ideology. Even among Republicans, whose party controls the White House and Congress, 45% want substantial change, and another 13% favor a complete overhaul.

Democrats and independents are even more dissatisfied. About half of Democratic voters and four in 10 independents support complete upheaval, reflecting a widespread appetite for something more dramatic than a routine change in congressional leadership.

According to the survey, 85% of voters consider the economy one of the most important issues influencing their decisions in November, while 84% cite the cost of living. Those concerns present a particular challenge for President Donald Trump, who returned to the White House promising to bring down prices and restore economic prosperity.

Nearly eight in 10 registered voters disapprove of his handling of the cost of living, while approximately three-quarters disapprove of his management of the broader economy.
Just 44% of Republican voters approve of his handling of living costs, compared with 54% who approve of his economic leadership.

The war with Iran has also emerged as a major electoral concern. Sixty-four percent of voters identify the conflict as a top issue, placing it ahead of immigration and crime, each cited by 45%.

Health care remains another significant concern, with 69% identifying it as an important factor in their vote. But widespread frustration with the president has not translated into overwhelming enthusiasm for Democrats. Only about four in 10 voters hold a favorable view of the Democratic Party, compared with 36% who view the Republican Party favorably.

Still, Democrats have an advantage in the battle for congressional control. Forty-seven percent of voters would prefer Democrats to control the House of Representatives, while 46% favor Democratic control of the Senate. Republicans receive 38% support for retaining control of either chamber.

Another 15% remain undecided, leaving a potentially decisive group of voters available to both parties. Democrats also appear more motivated to participate. Roughly three-quarters of Democratic voters consider voting in November extremely important, compared with about six in 10 Republicans.

Perhaps the most troubling finding for Washington's political establishment is the depth of pessimism extending beyond the upcoming election. Two-thirds of voters express pessimism about the state of American politics, while nearly half are pessimistic about the future of democracy itself.

Only about one in 10 say they feel optimistic about the country's political situation.
The survey was conducted October 8-12 among 1,119 adults nationwide, including 925 registered voters. The overall margin of sampling error was plus or minus 3.9 percentage points, and the margin for registered voters was 4.2 points.