CBS News poll finds Democrats still boosted by voters’ economic concerns, but many don’t think either party has a plan

Updated on: October 25, 2026 / 10:38 AM EDT / CBS News

Call it the "avoidance" election, with many on each side more motivated by trying to prevent or stop things than by what they'll gain.

Against a backdrop of continued concern about inflation and the economy, Democrats maintain their lead in a bid for a House majority. They're currently on pace for 229 seats in our CBS News House model estimate, which translates voters' congressional preferences into seats.

The potential range of outcomes could reach into the 230s in our model, but Republicans do still have a very narrow path to hold the majority, too.

While that Democratic lead has been durable over recent weeks, it hasn't expanded, either.

In other words, there isn't a growing wave, at least not as of today.

If anything, the still undecided or uncertain voters tend to profile as more Republican.

Whether they decide to show up is perhaps the key question of 2026.

Either way, voters describe a dynamic in which they're more motivated in opposition to things they think might happen. For instance:

More think gas prices will go up if Republicans win than if Democrats do.

(Though they don't think…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/moneywatch/