Campaign

Support for Democratic, Republican candidates tied among likely voters ahead of midterms: Poll

by Ashleigh Fields - 04/28/26 3:44 PM ET

Link copied

by Ashleigh Fields - 04/28/26 3:44 PM ET

Link copied

NOW PLAYING

Support for Democratic and Republican candidates is evenly split among likely midterm voters, according to a new poll.

The Harvard-Harris poll found that 50 percent of likely voters said they would support a Democratic candidate and 50 percent said they would support a Republican.

Responses fell along party lines with 97 percent of Democrats saying they would vote for the candidate from their party and 3 percent saying they would cast a ballot for a GOP candidate.

Similarly, 96 percent of Republican likely voters say they would support the party nominee and four percent said they would vote for a Democrat.

Independent likely voters were almost evenly split.

Fifty-two percent said they would vote for Democrats and 48 percent said they would vote for a Republican candidate.

The results come as both parties head into a heated midterm election amid changes to national election guidelines and congressional redistricting in some states.

President Trump is pushing to change voters’ access to mail in ballots, with the exception of servicemembers, disabled people and others.

Those approved for mail-in voting would have secured envelopes with barcodes for tracking.

In addition to those changes, the president has encouraged voter laws that require proof of citizenship before individuals can cast their ballot in the general election. He’s championed this main through pushing for the passage of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act.

Democrats have strongly advocated against the measure, citing potential concerns for voters who cannot obtain proper documentation to obtain an eligible identification card.

According to the Harvard-Harris poll results, 60 percent of likely voters support Trump’s push to tighten voter ID requirements ahead of midterm elections.

Forty percent do not support it.

States across the country have been racing to determine if they can implement mid-decade redistricting ahead of the November midterms in an effort to pick up seats that benefit a certain party.

California, Virginia, Texas, North Carolina, Missouri, Ohio and Utah have successfully redrawn congressional lines.

Trump has been supportive of redrawing congressional districts in Republican-leaning areas, including Texas and North Carolina.

However, he alleged that redistricting in Virginia unfairly favored Democrats after voters in that state approved a Democrat-backed map last week. Trump has since urged lawmakers in Florida to take up new congressional maps to pick up additional Republican seats. The Florida fight is likely Republicans’ last opportunity to redistrict in any state ahead of the election.

Some in the GOP are weary of the effort and say the initiative could cause blowback for the party.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has threatened “maximum warfare, everywhere, all the time” if Republicans proceed with efforts to redistrict in the Sunshine State.

“Our message to Florida Republicans is, ‘F around and find out,’” Jeffries told reporters Wednesday on Capitol Hill.

Amid redistricting changes, more than half of voters, 54 percent, say state legislatures should be in charge of redistricting, according to the poll.

Forty-six percent say independent commissions should be responsible for drawing congressional maps.

Poll results show 56 percent of respondents say they believe political gerrymandering should be restricted by the court and 44 percent say restrictions should be left to state legislatures.

The Harvard-Harris poll was conducted online from April 23 to April 26 with 2,745 registered voters by The Harris Poll and HarrisX.

Add as preferred source on Google