Democrats Gain Momentum in Latest Marquette Congressional Poll
WHO:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - President Donald Trump has a national approval rating of 37%.
FOX6 News Milwaukee - The Marquette University Law School conducted the poll.
WHAT:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - The Marquette poll shows Democrats leading Republicans 54% to 41% among likely voters for the congressional elections, an increase from a 51% to 45% lead in July.
FOX6 News Milwaukee - Among registered voters, Democrats hold a 50% to 42% lead, widening from a 46% to 44% margin in July.
Alternet - In competitive districts, Democrats now hold a two-point advantage on the generic congressional ballot, 49% to 47%, indicating a seven-point swing in favor of Democrats from Trump’s average win margin in 2024.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Trump's approval rating among independent voters is below 30%, and 93% of Democrats disapprove of Trump, while 80% of Republicans approve of him.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - The Marquette poll indicates that Democrats have a 12-point edge on inflation and cost of living among registered voters, and a 5-point edge on the economy.
Alternet - A new Battleground District Project poll shows Democrats with a two-point advantage on the generic congressional ballot in competitive districts, where Trump won by an average of five points in 2024, indicating a seven-point swing in favor of Democrats.
Alternet - Trump's overall disapproval rating in battleground districts is 58%, and a plurality of voters (43%) prefer candidates focused on overhauling the political system rather than those who would work with or serve as a check on Trump.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Democrats lead Republicans 54% to 41% among likely voters for the congressional elections.
FOX6 News Milwaukee - The Democratic advantage among registered voters is 50% to 42%.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - The poll indicates a 13-point lead for Democrats among likely voters.
FOX6 News Milwaukee - Inflation and cost of living is the most important issue for Americans at 37%.
FOX6 News Milwaukee - The economy is the second most important issue at 16%.
FOX6 News Milwaukee - The war with Iran is the third most important issue at 10%.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Trump's approval rating among independent voters is below 30%.
WHERE:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - The poll results reflect national trends in the United States.
FOX6 News Milwaukee - The survey was conducted nationwide.
WHEN:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - The Marquette poll was conducted from September 2-9, 2026.
FOX6 News Milwaukee - The results of the poll were released on September 16, 2026.
WHY:
Alternet - Voters blame Trump for worsening many of the country’s problems and are more concerned that Republicans will enable him than that Democrats will focus solely on impeachment.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Trump's low approval ratings are negatively impacting Republican candidates.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Democrats are gaining support on key issues like inflation and the economy, which were previously Republican strengths.
HOW:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - The Marquette poll surveyed 1,023 adults nationwide with a margin of error of +/-3.3 percentage points, and for likely voters, the sample size was 581 with a margin of error of +/-4.3 percentage points.
FOX6 News Milwaukee - The Marquette poll surveyed 1,023 adults nationwide with a margin of error of +/-3.3 percentage points.
FOX6 News Milwaukee - For registered voters, the sample size was 864 with a margin of error of +/-3.6, and for likely voters, the sample size was 581 with a margin of error of +/-4.3 percentage points.
(UPDATED September 18, 2026 03:01 UTC)
A new Marquette poll shows that Democrats are leading Republicans 54% to 41% among likely voters for the congressional elections, a significant increase from their previous 51% to 45% lead in July. Among registered voters, Democrats now hold a 50% to 42% advantage, up from a narrower 46% to 44% margin just a couple of months ago. Additionally, in competitive districts, Democrats have gained a two-point edge on the generic congressional ballot, reflecting a notable seven-point swing since Trump's average win margin in 2024, while his approval rating among independent voters remains below 30%.
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(UPDATED September 17, 2026 16:01 UTC)
A recent Marquette poll reveals that Democrats hold a 12-point advantage over Republicans on issues related to inflation and cost of living among registered voters, along with a 5-point edge on the economy. Additionally, a new Battleground District Project poll shows Democrats with a two-point lead on the generic congressional ballot in competitive districts, marking a significant seven-point swing since Trump won those areas by an average of five points in 2024. Voter sentiment in these battleground districts indicates that 58% disapprove of Trump, with 43% preferring candidates who aim to overhaul the political system rather than those who would merely serve as a check on him.
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(UPDATED September 17, 2026 04:02 UTC)
President Trump has a national approval rating of 37%, according to a recent Marquette University Law School poll, which also shows that Democrats lead Republicans 54% to 41% among likely voters for the upcoming congressional elections. The survey indicates that inflation and the cost of living are the top concerns for Americans, with 37% citing these issues, while Trump's approval rating among independent voters falls below 30%. Conducted nationwide from September 2 to September 9, 2026, the poll surveyed over a thousand adults and reveals a significant shift in voter sentiment, particularly as Democrats gain traction on issues that were once Republican strongholds.