New poll shows Americans trust Republicans more than Democrats on major congressional issues

WASHINGTON, DC: A new poll published this weekend shows that Americans trust Republicans more than Democrats to handle most major issues before Congress, highlighting a gap between issue-based confidence and overall party preference ahead of the 2026 midterms.

The findings come from a Wall Street Journal poll that measured voter trust across a range of policy areas, including border security, immigration, the economy, and foreign affairs. While Republicans held clear advantages on several of these issues, Democrats continued to maintain a narrow lead on the generic congressional ballot.

Republicans lead on major issues in Congress, poll shows

According to the poll, a plurality of Americans viewed Congressional Republicans as the party best able to address most major issues facing the country, compared with Democrats.

The widest divide appeared on border security, where Republicans were favored by a 28-point margin. Forty-eight percent of respondents said they trusted Republicans most on the issue, compared with 20% who preferred Democrats. Republicans also held an 11-point advantage over Democrats on immigration.

Beyond border-related issues, the poll showed Republicans outperforming Democrats across several other policy areas. Republicans led on the economy and inflation by six points, held a two-point edge on tariffs, and were preferred on foreign policy by a five-point margin. The party also had a four-point advantage when voters were asked which party they trusted more to handle the Russia-Ukraine war.

Meanwhile, Democrats retained stronger support on certain public health issues. The poll found Democrats held a nine-point advantage on vaccine policy and a 15-point lead on healthcare, areas where the party continues to be viewed as more capable by voters.

Despite Republicans leading on many individual issues, the generic congressional ballot painted a different picture. Democrats held a four-point advantage, with 47% of respondents saying they would support a Democratic candidate for Congress, compared with 43% who said they would back a Republican.

The Wall Street Journal poll surveyed 1,500 registered voters nationwide between January 8 and January 13.

Donald Trump faces midterm challenge amid shifting approval ratings

The polling also highlighted mixed sentiment toward President Donald Trump as the midterm elections approach. Trump’s approval rating stood at 45%, down one point from the previous poll, while his disapproval rating reached 54%.

The findings suggest that even as some voters express dissatisfaction with Trump’s handling of the economy, many still see Republicans as better equipped to manage economic issues overall. Separate polling from CNN showed Democratic lawmakers faced a 72% disapproval rating among Americans, based on a survey of 1,209 respondents conducted between January 9 and January 12.

Earlier this month, Trump expressed confidence that Republicans would outperform expectations in the 2026 midterms, predicting a historic victory for the party.

He later moderated those expectations in an interview with Fox News, acknowledging that sitting presidents almost always see their party lose ground in midterm elections, even when they believe they have governed effectively.