Trump Voters Aren’t Fired Up for the Midterms: New Poll Shows Democrats Have an 18-Point Enthusiasm Advantage

Voters who helped return President Donald Trump to the White House in 2024 are significantly less enthusiastic about participating in November's midterm elections than those who supported former Vice President Kamala Harris, according to a new poll.

The Reuters/Ipsos survey, released just weeks before the November 3 elections, found that 48% of Harris voters are very enthusiastic about casting their ballots, compared with only 30% of Trump supporters, an 18-percentage-point gap that could complicate Republican efforts to mobilize their base.

Trump's approval rating remains at a record low of 32%, with growing dissatisfaction over the cost of living, rising fuel prices and the war with Iran. The six-day survey, completed Monday, questioned 4,506 U.S. adults online and had a margin of error of approximately two percentage points.

The enthusiasm gap is particularly concerning for Republicans because midterm elections typically attract fewer voters than presidential contests, making turnout among committed supporters especially important.

The poll also found that Trump supporters are nearly twice as likely as Harris voters to be undecided about their congressional choices. Thirteen percent of those who backed Trump in 2024 said they were unsure which party to support, compared with 7% of Harris voters.

Another troubling development for Republicans involves male voters, a demographic that helped deliver Trump's 2024 victory.

That four-point Democratic advantage represents the party's strongest showing among men during Trump's second term. Male voters consistently favored Republicans throughout 2025, but their preferences have increasingly shifted toward Democrats since August.

The change comes alongside declining support for Trump across nearly every major demographic group. Since his January 2025 inauguration, the president has experienced double-digit approval declines among Hispanic voters, men, evangelical Christians, rural and suburban residents, and Americans without college degrees.

Economic concerns appear to be driving much of the dissatisfaction. The cost of living ranked as voters' leading concern ahead of the midterms, followed by democratic values and immigration. Gasoline and diesel prices have surged amid the conflict with Iran, adding financial pressure on households already struggling with everyday expenses.

Trump launched attacks against Iran in February despite campaigning on promises to avoid new wars and reduce consumer costs. Republicans retain an advantage among older Americans, a demographic that traditionally participates at higher rates in midterm elections. Among voters aged 50 and older, Republicans lead Democrats 44% to 42%, although that margin has narrowed considerably from an eight-point advantage in December.

Perhaps the clearest indication of Democrats' motivational advantage emerged when enthusiastic voters were asked what was driving them to participate. Among those expressing enthusiasm, 62% said they were motivated by opposition to Trump, while 36% said they wanted to demonstrate support for the president.