American voters are increasingly unwilling to give their representatives another term in Congress, according to a new Gallup poll that found record-low support for incumbent lawmakers just days before the 2026 midterm elections.

Only 43% of registered voters believe their own member of Congress deserves reelection, marking the first time that figure has fallen below 50% in Gallup's final pre-midterm surveys dating back to 1994. Support is even weaker when voters consider Congress as a whole, with just 15% saying most members deserve another term. Both figures represent record lows over the period Gallup examined.

The findings arrive as Republicans attempt to defend their narrow majority in the House of Representatives ahead of the Nov. 3 elections. The results suggest widespread dissatisfaction with Washington, while concerns about the economy and the country's direction could complicate the battle for congressional control.

Gallup conducted the survey from Oct. 1 through Oct. 19, revealing significant differences between Republicans, Democrats, and independents. Among Republicans, 51% believe their own representative deserves reelection. That figure falls to 45% among Democrats and just 36% among independents.

Voters are even more critical of Congress collectively. Only 29% of Republicans believe most members of Congress deserve another term, compared with 11% of Democrats and 9% of independents. Gallup cautioned that the findings do not establish which party's incumbents face greater opposition because the survey did not identify the party affiliation of each respondent's representative.

Congressional job approval has also plunged. Just 14% of Americans approve of Congress's performance, the lowest level recorded immediately before a midterm election in Gallup's polling history dating to 1974. Congress's all-time low approval rating was 9%, recorded in November 2013.

The decline is notable even among Republicans, whose approval of Congress has dropped from 53% in February 2025 to 29% in October 2026, despite the party's control of the House. Approval stands at only 4% among Democrats and 13% among independents, reflecting deep dissatisfaction across much of the electorate.

Economic concerns are adding to the political pressure. Nearly half of Americans, 48%, describe current economic conditions as poor, while just 19% rate them as excellent or good. The resulting net economic rating of minus 29points ranks among Gallup's weakest readings ahead of a midterm election.

The partisan divide over the economy is pronounced. Republicans report a positive net economic rating of 32 points, while Democrats register minus 68 and independents minus 37. Those differences illustrate how sharply Americans disagree about economic conditions as voters prepare to decide which party should control Congress.

When asked to identify the nation's most important problem, 26% of Americans cited government or poor leadership. Economic issues collectively drew an even larger share of responses, with 38% identifying concerns such as inflation, the overall economy or gas prices. The results indicate that voters are focused on both Washington's performance and the financial pressures affecting households.

Public satisfaction with the country's direction remains similarly low. Only 23% of Americans say they are satisfied with how things are going, while 75% report dissatisfaction. Republicans are considerably more optimistic, with 55% satisfied. By contrast, satisfaction falls to 18% among independents and just 2% among Democrats.

Historically, dissatisfaction with the direction of the country and the performance of Congress has often created difficult conditions for the party holding the White House. Since 1974, the president's party has lost House seats in 11 of the 13 midterm elections. The exceptions came in 1998, during President Bill Clinton's administration, and 2002, during President George W. Bush's presidency, when their parties gained seats.

Gallup's historical analysis also found that the president's party lost House seats in every midterm election during the period when congressional approval was below 30%. The size of those losses, however, varied substantially, demonstrating that low approval ratings alone do not determine the final outcome.

In 2010, Democrats lost 63 House seats under President Barack Obama when congressional approval stood at 21%. Twelve years later, Democrats lost only nine seats under President Joe Biden in the 2022 midterms, despite worse economic sentiment and lower satisfaction with the country's direction.

The latest Gallup findings point to a challenging political environment ahead of Election Day, with record-low support for incumbent lawmakers and historically weak approval of Congress. Whether that discontent translates into substantial Republican losses, a Democratic victory, or a narrower-than-expected shift in the House will depend on how voters ultimately judge the parties' performance and their choices for the next Congress.