The October 23–26 Economist / YouGov survey put Democratic House candidates at 46% and Republicans at 40% among registered voters. In the same survey, 63% said the country was on the wrong track.
YouGov conducted a survey of U.S. registered voters from 2026-10-23 to 2026-10-26. The reported sample size was 1440, using Online.
Reported findings
Would you say things in this country today are…
Base: All registered voters · n = 1440
In the elections for U.S. Congress in November, who will you vote for in the district where you live?
Base: Registered voters answering the congressional-vote question; includes leaners · n = 1430
Release date identifies the linked October 29 source article. National registered-voter results only; not state estimates. Congressional voting includes a follow-up for initially undecided respondents. Its question base is 1,430, not the survey-wide 1,440. Likely-voter screens are excluded.
Caldwell analysis
The six-point House preference gap describes a national sample, not the number of seats either party will win. District boundaries, local candidates and turnout determine how national preferences translate into individual races. The question named candidates in each respondent’s district and included a follow-up for initially undecided voters.
The country-direction result measures a broader judgment than party choice. These two findings should be read alongside one another, rather than treated as proof that pessimism causes support for either party.
Reading the results
These figures describe the stated survey population during the fieldwork period. A single survey does not establish a trend. Comparisons require compatible questions, populations and methods.
Sources
Democrats lead a week before Election Day. YouGov. Source released 2026-10-29.
Original questionnaire, tables and methodology
Source: YouGov plc, 2026, © All rights reserved. Public data license.