Swing Voters Describe 2026 Midterms as “Messy” and “Divided” Ahead of Election Day
A small group of swing voters in key states shared their low ratings for President Trump and their uneasy feelings about the country as the 2026 midterms approach.
Background on the Swing‑Shift sample
NPR’s long‑term “Swing Shift” project follows a handful of swing voters in battleground states, checking in with them regularly. The participants have voted for President Trump in every election over the past decade, and most cast their ballot for him in 2024.
Individual snapshots
Gerald – A staunch Trump supporter who gave the president an A+++. He voted early in Georgia for Republican Senate candidate Mike Collins and Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson, saying “Red all the way down the ballot.” He added that when a Democrat ran unopposed he wrote in his own name because he refuse[s] to give a Democrat my vote.
Wally – Represents a fraying segment of the Trump base. Since March he has consistently given the president an F, citing a lack of effective leadership. He said inflation is his top concern and expressed little hope that any single politician can solve it. In early voting he chose Democratic Senate incumbent Jon Ossoff and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms, describing his vote as a rejection of Trump and “MAGA.” He also gave both parties in Congress an F, accusing them of “stealing money from the American public.”
Theresa – A Pennsylvania voter who backed Joe Biden in 2020 and Trump in 2024. She rated Trump’s second term a C‑.
Overall sentiment
When asked to sum up how they feel about the country, the Swing‑Shift participants used words such as “messy,” “divided,” “disarray,” and “scary.” Their assessment of Trump’s performance aligns with national polls: most are unhappy or underwhelmed, frequently mentioning the war in Iran and high energy prices as major concerns. Only two of the eleven voters said they were happy with Trump’s second term.
What’s at stake
The midterm elections will let Americans weigh in on the nation’s direction nearly two years into President Trump’s second term. The mixed messages from swing voters in swing states highlight the challenges both the president and his party face as they seek to retain control in Congress and the governorships.
