The first Democratic lead on economic messaging since 2017 comes as President Trump's approval slips to 35% and voters show broader unease over affordability and monetary policy.
Democrats hold a narrow advantage over Republicans on handling the economy for the first time in nearly a decade, with 37% of voters in the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll backing the Democratic approach versus 36% for Republicans, while 27% remain unsure. The shift, the first since 2017, comes amid weaker readings for President Trump's standing: 35% of Americans approve of the job he is doing as president, 3 percentage points above his lowest rating this term and down 2 points from a similar July poll. The survey points to broader voter discomfort tied to gas price swings linked to the Iran war, rising inflation and global market instability, pressures that can quickly reshape perceptions of economic stewardship. A separate CNN poll found 73% of U.S. adults believe Trump is not prioritizing the country's top issues as affordability concerns grow. In the same Reuters/Ipsos survey, 42% of registered voters said they would vote for a Democrat in November, compared with 37% for a Republican. The political picture remains competitive because redrawn congressional maps in several states favor Republicans, while researchers identified 36 House races and 8 Senate seats as competitive. Trump has responded by campaigning in person and through telerallies to defend a GOP majority in both chambers, while publicly dismissing unfavorable polling.