CBS News Battleground Tracker poll finds Trump motivating both sides, Democrats have edge in seats in fight for House

September 13, 2026 / 9:00 AM EDT / CBS News

Here's something Republicans and Democrats seem to agree on: They both see the midterms as being about President Trump, albeit for different reasons.

Mr. Trump is so much on voters' minds that if this view holds at these levels through Election Day, it would surpass his own 2018 mark for a president being a factor in midterm elections.

This is also an election set against a wide backdrop of uncertainty on many fronts: The economy, inflation, conflict overseas, and even AI's impact.

So, prices and inflation are driving voter sentiment in 2026 against the party in power, just as they did two years ago.

This is not because voters necessarily think they'll be better off — most don't think either party can help their finances. It's more just out of opposition.

CBS News' House model helps translate general preference for Congress, where Democrats have a lead, into seats — which is, of course, how the House is elected and decided.

It currently puts the Democrats at 228 seats, a majority, though not an historically large one, over the 218 of 435 seats needed. The model estimate ranges into the high…

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