CBS Exit Poll: Trump Approval at Just 38%; Democrats Win North Carolina and Georgia Senate Seats

TechFlow, November 04 — According to CBS News, preliminary exit polls for the 2026 U.S. midterm elections show Trump's approval rating at 38%, possibly setting the lowest record for a president in midterm elections. This figure is lower than during his first term and also lower than George W. Bush's level in 2006 when Republicans lost both chambers of Congress. About 60% of voters said Trump was a factor in their vote for House representatives. This was mainly driven by Democratic voters, most of whom voted against Trump. Among Republican voters, only a majority of the MAGA camp said they voted to support Trump, while a majority of non-MAGA Republicans said he was not a factor.

In the Senate races, CBS News has projected Democrat Roy Cooper to win the North Carolina Senate seat. This marks the first time since Kay Hagan in 2008 that the state has elected a Democratic senator. Cooper performed better among independent voters and white women than Harris did in 2024. A majority of voters said his opponent, Republican Michael Whatley, was too supportive of Trump. Democrat Jon Ossoff was projected to win within 40 minutes after polls closed in Georgia, defeating Republican House representative Mike Collins. Ossoff performed strongly among Black voters, with vote share roughly comparable to his 2021 runoff, and also made gains among white voters. The contest between South Carolina Republican Senator Darline Graham and Democrat Annie Andrews remains rated as too close to call.

Source: TechFlow