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Muse Spark 1.2Sep 12, 2026meta/muse-spark-1.2-20260805

What is the current state of US politics?

The landscape has shifted — gathering a current overview of U.S. politics for you.

As of September 12, 2026, US politics is dominated by the second Trump administration and the approaching 2026 midterm elections.

1. Executive Branch

President Donald Trump is serving his nonconsecutive second term after returning to office. He delivered his first State of the Union in his second term in February 2026. The administration has been characterized by an unprecedented use of executive power, particularly on trade and immigration.

2. Control of Congress

The 2024 election redefined the political landscape on Capitol Hill. With the Republican party securing control of the Senate and narrowing its majority in the House.

•House of Representatives: Republicans currently hold 218 seats while the Democrats have 214. As of August 31, 2026, there are two vacant seats in the House due to resignations. The slim margin indicates a narrowly divided House, where coalition-building and bipartisan cooperation will be critical for passing legislation.
•Senate: Republicans have the majority in the Senate with 53 seats to the Democrats’ 47 seats, including two independents who caucus with Democrats. This majority gives Senate Republicans the power to shape committee assignments and control over the Senate’s agenda.

Current House leadership remains under Speaker Mike Johnson (R) and the Senate majority remains Republican. Key House committees are expected to be retained by Rep. Jim Jordan (Judiciary) and Rep. James Comer (Oversight).

3. Presidential Approval and Public Opinion

President Trump's approval ratings are historically low for this stage of a presidency:

•A Quinnipiac University national poll released September 10, 2026 found Thirty-three percent of voters approve of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president, while 59 percent disapprove. This compares to 32% approval in late July, an all-time low in Quinnipiac polling.
•Polling averages for September 2026 show Approve, 37.8%, Disapprove, 58.4%, Net Approval, -20.6, down from 48% at inauguration. Silver Bulletin reported September 10, 2026 that Donald Trump’s net approval rating is up slightly from its all time low of -20.6. Still, a net approval of -19.5 is far from popular.
•On issues, voters disapprove of Trump's handling on almost all fronts polled Sept. 3-6: immigration issues: 39 percent approve, while 57 percent disapprove; foreign policy: 33 percent approve, while 60 percent disapprove; the economy: 32 percent approve, while 65 percent disapprove. These are the lowest approval ratings ever for Trump's handling of the economy in Quinnipiac polls.
•Cost of living is a particular weak spot: far more U.S. adults disapprove than approve of how President Donald Trump is handling the issue (71% disapprove, 22% approve).

Pew Research noted Trump's job rating at this point is on par with Biden’s in 2022, but lower than that of other recent presidents.

4. Key Political Issues in 2026

Economy and Cost of Living: A new Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted August 28-31 finds that a plurality (47%) of registered voters say the cost of living would be the single most important factor in deciding their 2026 midterm vote. Republicans’ populist credentials have been tarnished with 65% thinking the Trump administration's policies favor the wealthy, and a March Joint Economic Committee Minority report found middle class workers will lose hundreds of dollars in 2026 from the combined impact of tax and tariff actions.

Tariffs and Trade: President Donald Trump assured lawmakers he would not ask them to pass legislation instituting his global tariffs, saving them from taking politically difficult votes. They’re instead relying on a patchwork of narrower authorities, including a temporary 10% global levy, which will increase to 15%. Economic models suggest these tariffs will raise prices and slow economic growth. About nine-in-ten Democrats and Democratic leaners (93%) disapprove of the tariffs.

Immigration: Remains the most divisive issue. The Trump administration is making a new push to exclude millions of U.S. residents from a key census count, and its restrictive immigration policies have majority support among some conservative groups but has raised concerns about labor shortages.

Foreign Policy: Polls show voters disapprove of Trump's handling of trade with Canada (28% approve, 62% disapprove), the Russia-Ukraine war (28% approve, 61% disapprove) and Iran (29% approve, 65% disapprove). More than half of voters (56 percent) think President Trump is too tough on Canada.

5. The 2026 Midterm Elections

From control of Congress to statehouse battles, the 2026 midterms will have far-reaching consequences for the balance of power. In these midterm elections, scheduled to occur during Republican president Donald Trump's nonconsecutive second term, all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate will be contested, meaning the midterms literally determine the congressional balance of power. The general election is scheduled for November 3, 2026, and the general election season was noted as underway as of September 8, 2026.

Current polling points to a favorable environment for Democrats, though outcomes remain uncertain:

•Quinnipiac (Sept 3-6): If the election were today, 49 percent of voters would want to see the Democratic Party win control of the U.S. House of Representatives, while 38 percent would want to see the Republican Party win control — an 11-point Democratic advantage.
•Pew Research: Several months ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, Democrats hold a 6 percentage point edge over Republicans among registered voters on the generic ballot for Congress (43% vs. 37%).
•Voters’ Voice Poll: 47% of U.S. registered voters surveyed would vote for a Democratic candidate if elections were held today, while only 41% would vote for a Republican.
•Emerson College Poll (June 2026): the Democratic candidate holds a 10-point lead over the Republican candidate, 50% to 40%.

Analysts note the current Republican majority in the House is narrow, and a swing of only a handful of seats would flip control. The Senate map favors Republicans structurally, but the political climate has made several seats more competitive than usual.

Other dynamics highlighted:

•Intraparty tensions: Congressional primaries in both parties are serving as early indicators of whether Trump retains his grip on Republicans and whether the Democratic Party is shifting left ahead of the 2028 presidential race. Trump's endorsement remains a powerful force in Republican primaries.
•Trust in elections: A narrow majority of Americans (55%) are confident that this November’s midterm elections will be conducted fairly and accurately – down from 61% ahead of the 2024 elections. Another survey found 60% confident votes will be counted accurately nationwide in the 2026 midterms, down from 77% just after the 2024 election.
•Polarization: The political divide remains critically high according to the USC Polarization Index which tracks national political division.

In historical context, midterm elections typically favor the party out of the White House, and many forecasters currently describe GOP midterm prospects as darkening as Trump approval falls, with affordability expected to be a key issue.

2. [9/10/26 - Voters Favor Dems Over GOP By 11 Points For Control Of U.S. House,
Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds;
Trump's Handling Of Canada Trade, Iran &
Russia - Ukraine War All Below 30% | Quinnipiac University Poll](https://poll.qu.edu/poll-release?releaseid=3965)

Citations (4)

  1. 1bgov.comNews and mediaquality 0.68
    Balance of Power in the U.S. House and Senate

    Backs: “Control of Congress. The 2024 election redefined the political landscape on Capitol Hill. With the Republican party securing control of the Senate and narrowing its majority in the House.”

  2. 2qu.eduAcademic
    9/10/26 - Voters Favor Dems Over GOP By 11 Points For Control Of U.S. House, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Trump's Handling Of Canada Trade, Iran & Russia - Ukraine War All Below 30% | Quinnipiac University Poll

    Backs: “President Trump's approval ratings are historically low for this stage of a presidency: A Quinnipiac University national poll released September 10, 2026 found Thirty-three percent of voters approve of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president, while 59 percent disapprove.”

  3. 3ipsos.comCompanies
    Cost of living remains top of mind for voters heading into 2026 midterms

    Backs: “These are the lowest approval ratings ever for Trump's handling of the economy in Quinnipiac polls. Cost of living is a particular weak spot: far more U.S. adults disapprove than approve of how President Donald Trump is handling the issue (71% disapprove, 22% approve).”

  4. 4brookings.eduNonprofits and think tanks
    The 2026 midterm elections | Brookings

    Backs: “More than half of voters (56 percent) think President Trump is too tough on Canada. 5. The 2026 Midterm Elections. From control of Congress to statehouse battles, the 2026 midterms will have far-reaching consequences for the balance of power.”