AP Voter Poll: How key demographic groups voted in the 2026 midterms

Young and Hispanic voters moved away from Republicans in the 2026 U.S. House races. About 7 in 10 voters under 30 supported the Democratic candidate, compared with about 3 in 10 who supported the Republican. About 6 in 10 Hispanic voters backed Democrats, while roughly one-third backed Republicans. These groups mattered because Republicans had hoped to preserve Donald Trump's 2024 coalition.

The shift was strongest among young voters. They were more likely than older voters to say their vote expressed opposition to Trump. Hispanic voters also reported negative views of Trump's economic policies, with about 7 in 10 saying those policies worsened economic conditions.

The article provides fewer voting details for other demographic groups. It does show that older voters were less likely to use their vote to signal dissatisfaction with Trump. Only about 1 in 10 voters were under 30, limiting that group's overall effect.

The AP Voter Poll was unusually large, surveying about 80,000 voters. It covered all 50 states, giving researchers a broad national view of the 2026 midterm electorate. That scale matters because it allows comparisons among groups such as young voters and Hispanic voters, rather than relying only on a small local sample.

The poll examined votes in local U.S. House races and asked voters about their motivations, concerns, and views of national leaders. It found patterns including strong Democratic support among voters under 30 and a Republican decline among Hispanic voters compared with 2024. It also measured opinions about the economy, democracy, Trump, and Congress.

A large national survey can reveal broad tendencies, but the article presents rounded figures such as “about 7 in 10.” These numbers describe the surveyed electorate nationally. They do not mean every state or congressional district voted the same way.

The comparison shows Republicans lost support among both groups, especially voters under 30. In 2024, the youngest voters were roughly split between Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. In the 2026 House races, about 7 in 10 supported the Democratic candidate, while about 3 in 10 supported the Republican.

Hispanic voters shifted less dramatically but still moved away from Republicans. Roughly 4 in 10 Hispanic voters supported Trump in 2024. In 2026, only about one-third supported the Republican candidate in their local House race, while about 6 in 10 supported the Democrat.

The figures compare different kinds of elections, so they are not identical measures. One concerns a presidential vote, and the other concerns a House race. Still, the poll suggests Republicans did not retain all the support Trump gained from these groups in 2024.

A major change among young voters does not automatically transform the national result because only about 1 in 10 2026 midterm voters were under 30. Their smaller share limits the group's direct effect on the overall vote. The article explicitly notes that the shift away from Republicans has limited impact for that reason.

The group can still matter when its votes are concentrated in competitive states or districts. A strong move toward one party can also affect the balance in close House races, even if young voters are a minority of the electorate. Their views may further indicate how future voters judge current leaders and policies.

The poll found that about half of young voters felt angry about the country's direction, and most said their vote expressed opposition to Trump. That suggests their participation carried a clear political message, even though their numbers were relatively small.

Presidents can shape congressional elections because voters often use them to send a message about national leadership. In this poll, Trump was not a candidate, but about 4 in 10 voters said they voted to express opposition to him. Just under 2 in 10 said they voted to express support, while roughly 4 in 10 said he was not a factor.

The mechanism is political signaling. A voter may choose a congressional candidate partly to approve or reject the president's performance and priorities. Young voters were especially likely to vote against Trump. Older voters were less likely to say their vote signaled dissatisfaction with him.

The results show that the 2026 House races were shaped by more than local candidates. About 6 in 10 voters disapproved of Trump's presidential performance, and about 6 in 10 believed he prioritized personal interests over the country's interests. Those views influenced how many voters understood their choices.

Midterm elections are U.S. elections held about two years after a presidential election, midway through the president's four-year term. Voters choose members of Congress, including House representatives and some senators, rather than choosing a president. The 2026 elections described here were midterms, and Donald Trump was not on the ballot.

Presidential elections have a different central purpose. Voters choose the president and vice president, while congressional and other races may also appear on the ballot. Midterms instead determine which lawmakers will serve in Congress during the second half of a president's term. This can affect the government's direction and oversight.

Even without a presidential contest, midterms often reflect views of the president. The poll found that about 4 in 10 voters used their congressional vote to express opposition to Trump. That is why presidential approval and national issues mattered in these House races.

Checks and balances is the system in which each branch of the U.S. government can restrain the others. For Congress, that means overseeing the executive branch, investigating government actions, controlling funding, passing laws, and using other constitutional powers. The goal is to prevent the presidency from becoming unchecked and to protect separated government authority.

In the article, voters wanted Congress to act more forcefully as a co-equal branch. Roughly 7 in 10 said Congress was doing not enough to provide checks and balances on the presidency. Only about 2 in 10 said it was doing about the right amount, and about 1 in 10 said it was doing too much.

This matters because voters were also unhappy with both Trump and Congress. About 6 in 10 disapproved of Trump's presidential performance, while voters overwhelmingly disapproved of Congress's handling of its job. The poll points to pressure for stronger congressional oversight.