Voters back Democrats on economy and cost of living while expressing distrust of both parties

An Associated Press‑NORC poll released in late September found registered voters favor Democrats over Republicans on handling the economy and the cost of living, even as large majorities say they distrust both parties.

The survey, conducted Sept. 24‑28 among 2,140 U.S. adults, including 1,766 registered voters, showed 38% said Democrats would manage the cost of living better compared with 27% for Republicans, while 27% said neither party would do a good job.

On the broader economy, about four in ten voters now say Democrats would handle the issue better, a rise from 26% in February. The poll also revealed deep skepticism: 55% of respondents said the Republican Party cannot solve important problems, and 48% expressed the same sentiment about Democrats.

Only roughly one‑fifth of voters believe either party is focused on helping people like them or can solve key problems. Republicans were viewed as more likely to prioritize wealthy and powerful interests, with 60% describing the party as “focused on helping rich and powerful people” extremely or very well, versus 32% for Democrats. Nearly half of voters said the term “corrupt” fits the Republican Party extremely or very well, compared with 37% for Democrats.

President Donald Trump also faced negative assessments, with 68% describing him as “too extreme.” The same share said the Republican Party itself is too extreme, while 45% felt the same about Democrats.

Internal divisions were evident within the Democratic Party: 46% of Democratic voters said their party is too moderate, while a similar share said its current level of moderation is about right.

The poll arrives as both parties gear up for the Nov. 3 midterms. The Cook Political Report recently shifted fifteen House race ratings toward Democrats, suggesting Republicans risk losing their House majority. Democrats hold 215 seats and need a net gain of three for a majority, with estimates ranging from five to fifteen additional seats. The new voter sentiment on the economy and widespread distrust could shape campaign strategies as candidates vie for critical swing districts.