Democrats hold an 11-point advantage over Republicans among registered voters asked which party they want to control the U.S. House, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll. The survey found 49% preferred Democratic control, 38% chose Republicans and 13% did not offer an opinion.
The gap widened from a July 29 Quinnipiac poll, when Democrats led 48% to 41%. The latest survey also found low job approval for both parties in Congress and President Donald Trump.
Congressional parties receive poor ratings
Twenty-one percent of voters approved of how Democrats in Congress were handling their jobs, while 70% disapproved. Republicans in Congress received 26% approval and 67% disapproval.
When asked which party was more in touch with the concerns of most Americans, 46% selected Democrats and 35% chose Republicans. Thirteen percent volunteered that there was no difference.
Trump's overall job approval stood at 33%, with 59% disapproving and 8% offering no opinion. His approval was statistically similar to Quinnipiac's July reading of 32%, which the university described as his lowest in its polling.
Approval of Trump's handling of seven issues ranged from 28% to 39%. Immigration received the highest approval at 39%, followed by his role as commander in chief at 36%, foreign policy at 33% and the economy at 32%.
Twenty-nine percent approved of his handling of Iran. His approach to the Russia-Ukraine war and trade with Canada each received 28% approval.
Voters oppose Lake Ontario renaming
Seventy percent opposed Trump's executive order renaming Lake Ontario as Lake America, while 21% supported it and 9% offered no opinion. A majority, 56%, said Trump was too tough on Canada, while 28% said his approach was about right.
The poll also found 60% opposed the White House ballroom construction project and 33% supported it.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth received 32% approval and 57% disapproval. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. received 36% approval and 54% disapproval.
Thirty-two percent of voters identified as supporters of Trump's Make America Great Again movement, while 65% did not. Fifty-one percent said a candidate identifying as a MAGA supporter would make them less likely to vote for that person.
Among Republicans, 79% called themselves MAGA supporters and 17% did not. Eighteen percent of all voters said the label would make them more likely to support a candidate, while 29% said it would make no difference.
Twenty-six percent identified as supporters of the Democratic Socialists of America. Forty-three percent said that label would make them less likely to support a candidate, while 17% said it would make them more likely.
Among Democrats, 59% identified as Democratic Socialist supporters and 30% did not. Thirty-five percent of voters overall said a candidate's association with the movement would make no difference to their vote.
Foreign policy opinions show voter concern
Asked about U.S. military operations against Iran, 39% wanted troops to remain while the country negotiated a peace agreement. Thirty percent favored withdrawal without a deal, and 22% preferred increased military operations until Iran surrendered or agreed to peace.
On the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, 52% said the United States was less safe than before 2001. Thirty-seven percent said it was safer and 4% said the level of safety was the same.
Voter sympathies in the Middle East leaned narrowly toward Palestinians, 38% to 35% for Israelis, with 27% not offering an opinion. Quinnipiac said the Palestinian figure was the highest and the Israeli figure the lowest since it began asking the question in 2001.
Half of voters said the United States was too supportive of Russia, while 48% said it was too supportive of Israel. Forty-one percent said the United States was not supportive enough of Ukraine.
On voting methods, 51% expected to cast a ballot in person on Election Day, 21% planned to vote by mail or absentee ballot and 24% planned to use an early-voting location. Sixty percent supported allowing any voter to vote by mail, while 36% opposed it.
Quinnipiac surveyed 970 self-identified registered voters nationwide from Sept. 3-6. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points, including the design effect.
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