A new Fox News Poll reveals deep voter discontent with the economy and the political system, with a majority of voters calling for dramatic or revolutionary change and Democrats holding significant advantages on key issues ahead of the November elections. The survey, conducted in July, shows President Donald Trump's job approval rating stuck at 39 percent, near a record low, while 75 percent of voters rate the economy negatively. The findings suggest a challenging political environment for Republicans as the midterm campaign season intensifies.
According to the poll, 53 percent of voters would back the Democratic candidate in their House district if the election were held today, compared to 46 percent who would support the Republican candidate. That seven-point Democratic edge is just outside the poll's margin of error and represents the highest percentage either party has received on the generic House ballot in Fox News polling since 1996. In counties where the 2024 presidential race was close, the Democratic candidate leads by 59 to 41 percent. However, Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who conducts the Fox News Poll with Democrat Chris Anderson, cautioned that some Democratic support is concentrated in less-contested districts, which could pad national totals without translating into additional House seats. Shaw estimated that the GOP could retain the House even if Democrats win the national popular vote by two to three points, but a six- to seven-point Democratic advantage would likely flip control.
Voter motivation also favors Democrats. Sixty-eight percent of Democrats say they are extremely motivated to vote in November, compared to 57 percent of Republicans, an 11-point gap. Among Republicans, the divide is even starker: 66 percent of those who identify as MAGA Republicans are extremely motivated, versus 41 percent of non-MAGA Republicans. This enthusiasm gap could prove critical in determining turnout and outcomes in competitive districts.
Economic pessimism remains a dominant theme. Three-quarters of voters rate the economy negatively, a figure that has held steady for six months. Another three-quarters say inflation has caused them financial hardship, including 34 percent who describe it as serious hardship, up from 26 percent last year. Fifty-four percent of voters expect the economy to worsen over the coming year. Only Republicans express optimism, with 71 percent expecting improvement, while 75 percent of Democrats and 64 percent of independents anticipate further deterioration. Trump receives net-negative approval ratings on handling the economy (33 percent approve, 67 percent disapprove) and inflation (27 percent approve, 73 percent disapprove).
Voters give Democrats a clear edge on several major issues. Democrats are preferred over Republicans by 22 points on handling income inequality, 21 points on healthcare, 10 points on inflation, 9 points on the economy, and 7 points on foreign policy. Republicans hold a seven-point advantage on crime, while government spending (Democrats plus three) and national security (Republicans plus two) are more evenly divided. On immigration, the GOP's eight-point edge from April has evaporated, with Democrats now preferred by one point.
Discontent extends beyond individual figures to the political system itself. Seventy percent of voters say the Republican Party is closely tied to elite interests, while 55 percent say the same about the Democratic Party. Nearly half of Democrats (48 percent) and 41 percent of Republicans say they feel betrayed by their party, primarily for selling out to special interests. The perception that the system is rigged in favor of the wealthy has grown, with 65 percent of voters now holding that view, up nine points from 2019. The share of voters who accept income inequality because that is how the economy works has fallen from 62 percent in 2014 to 46 percent, while the share who want government action has more than doubled from 13 percent to 30 percent.
Voters overwhelmingly support structural changes. By a two-to-one margin, they say it is more important to elect new people than to keep those with experience. Nineteen percent want revolutionary change in government, while 38 percent want substantial change and 23 percent want dramatic change. Almost twice as many Democrats (52 percent) as Republicans (28 percent) want dramatic or revolutionary change. Nearly 7 in 10 voters disapprove of both Democrats and Republicans in Congress, and 85 percent support a mandatory retirement age for members of Congress, up 20 points since 2002. Of those in favor, 80 percent think the cutoff should be before age 75.
The poll also captures shifting ideological views. Just 50 percent of voters have a positive view of capitalism, down from 57 percent in 2019. Socialism is viewed favorably by 30 percent, up from 27 percent last year. Among Democrats, 52 percent have a favorable opinion of socialism, compared to 41 percent who view capitalism positively. Among Republicans, capitalism is favored by a 50-point margin over socialism.
The Fox News Poll was conducted July 22-24, 2025, among a sample of 1,006 registered voters nationwide. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus three percentage points.