The Marquette Law School national survey found President Donald Trump’s job approval at 37% in its Sept. 2–9 poll, according to the Marquette release — donald trump marquette poll approval appears lower than in earlier 2026 surveys.
The Marquette poll shows 54% of likely voters saying they would pick a Democratic congressional candidate and 41% a Republican, widening the Democratic lead on the generic ballot, Marquette reported. The survey interviewed 1,023 adults nationwide, including 581 likely voters, and lists a margin of error of +/-4.3 percentage points for the likely-voter sample.
Marquette’s detailed tables show Trump’s approval has slipped from mid-40s earlier in his second term to 37% in the national survey, with disapproval at 63% in the release. The poll also breaks out approval on specific issues: for example, approval of his handling of inflation and the economy is substantially lower than his overall number, the Marquette report states.
Journal Sentinel analysis of the same Marquette results noted the approval figure is the lowest Marquette has recorded for Trump and called the numbers a potential headwind for Republican candidates in closely contested races. The Journal Sentinel story also highlighted that Trump’s standing with independents is particularly weak in the poll.
Marquette’s poll dates and sample are listed on the university’s release: Sept. 2–9, 2026, with 1,023 adults interviewed, 864 registered voters and 581 likely voters. The release and news accounts emphasized that the Democrats’ 54%–41% edge is larger among likely voters than among all registered voters.
Political analysts cited in coverage pointed to two mechanisms the poll captures: a softening of independent support for Trump and higher Democratic enthusiasm and turnout intent. The Journal Sentinel article said independents show markedly lower approval of Trump and that Democrats reported higher certainty to vote, which helps explain the larger lead in the likely-voter sample.
Why it matters: historically, low presidential approval in the incumbent’s party tends to depress that party’s standing in midterms. Marquette’s release and the Journal Sentinel analysis both note the size of the generic-ballot advantage Democrats would need to flip chambers, given the distribution of competitive seats this year.
Sources
- Marquette Today — Marquette Law School poll release with survey dates, sample sizes, the 37% approval figure and the 54%–41% generic-ballot results.
- Journal Sentinel — local analysis of the Marquette results noting the 37% approval low and the implications for independents and turnout.
