US President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to a record low of 31%, with rising gasoline prices and concerns over the economy weighing on public sentiment ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that concluded on Monday.
The four-day survey found that Trump's approval rating dropped by one percentage point from two weeks earlier, marking the lowest level of either of his presidential terms. The poll also showed Democrats opening a 12-point lead over Republicans among registered voters, the widest margin recorded during the current election cycle.
Asked which party they would support if congressional elections were held today, 47% of registered voters chose Democrats, compared with 35% who backed Republicans.
The Democratic lead has widened from seven percentage points in the previous Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted two weeks earlier, when Democrats had 44% support against 37% for Republicans.
However, national polls do not capture all the nuances of state-level Senate races and district-level House contests, where Republicans retain some structural advantages.
Women voters drive shift towards democrats
The widening Democratic lead was partly driven by a larger share of women saying they would vote for Democratic candidates.
Around 50% of female voters backed Democrats, compared with 32% who said they would vote Republican.
Men also favoured Democrats, although the gap between the two parties was narrower among male voters.
Trump's popularity has suffered since he ordered military strikes on Iran in February alongside US ally Israel. The war triggered a surge in gasoline prices, putting additional pressure on household finances.
The poll found that 68% of Americans disapproved of Trump's handling of the economy. The figure included 37% of respondents who identified themselves as Republicans.
When asked which party would do a better job managing the economy, 40% of respondents chose Democrats, compared with 33% who favoured Republicans.