US midterm elections: Trump delivers on his promises

US midterm elections Trump makes good on his promises As of: October 29, 2026 • 9:21 a.m

Trump promised voters in 2024 that he would make life in the USA affordable again. Two years later, the reality looks different - not least at the gas pumps. This affects the polls before the midterms.

One word characterizes the election campaign for Congress: "Affordability", literally translated as affordability. The high cost of living and rising prices have been a concern for Americans since the inflation surge during the pandemic in 2021. Donald Trump has already used them occasionally for his campaign in the 2024 presidential election - "Make America Affordable Again" was written on individual posters at his rallies.

But the cost of living has only now become the clear number one issue in the congressional elections. Trump came into office promising to get prices under control. His first major political decision, the imposition of extensive import tariffs, had the opposite effect. But since Trump started the war against Iran, price developments at gas stations have dominated everyday life and political debates. Inflation is now higher than when he took office.

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In an Ipsos survey about the most important electoral issue, 49 percent of respondents named the cost of living, followed by democratic values ​​and norms at 22 percent. Migration at twelve percent and crime at four percent have become less important compared to previous elections.

The economic situation in the USA is actually good by objective standards. Economic growth is solid and unemployment is stable at a low level. Nevertheless, those surveyed consistently rated the economic situation as poor in various surveys.

In the Siena survey for the New York Times in October, 21 percent described the situation as good or very good, 79 percent as less good or bad. In January, before the start of the Iran war, the positive rating was at least 29 percent.

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Voters measure the economic situation primarily by price developments. And they no longer blame the Democrat Joe Biden for this, but rather the Republican Trump.

According to the latest Pew survey from October, 65 percent are convinced that Trump has done more harm than good to the economy since taking office, while 19 percent see it the other way around. Among Republican supporters, there is still a slight relative majority of 39 percent for whom the benefits outweigh the benefits; for 35 percent, the harm is greater in this group too.

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The survey also regularly asks which problems or developments are of greatest concern to Americans. Energy prices are currently at the top of the list of concerns. 74 percent are very worried or concerned - a figure that has doubled since the beginning of the year. This is followed by the cost of living at 73 percent, the cost of health at 69 percent and the cost of housing at 66 percent.

For most Americans, housing costs are not the monthly rent payments, but rather the interest on ownership. A 30-year mortgage currently has an interest rate of 7.5 percent, the highest in years. Many couples and families have been putting off buying a home for a long time, waiting in vain for lower interest rates.

For decades and until the start of the pandemic, Americans were on average around 30 years old when they bought their first home or apartment. In 2025, the average age of home buyers jumped to 40, an all-time record.

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According to Pew data, only US citizens' view of the stock market has relaxed in recent years. Only 21 percent of those surveyed are currently concerned. In fact, prices have continued to rise significantly under Trump. Wealthy Americans often have a large portion of their retirement savings invested in stocks, and this group overwhelmingly votes Republican.

The majority's poor assessment of the economy and major concerns about their own budget are the key reasons for the headwind that the Republicans are feeling in the final phase of the election campaign. And this problem is homemade - it is the result of Trump's political decisions.

Attempts to influence developments with controversial measures such as the diesel deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin have no effect on energy prices or polls.

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A classic of US political research is the question of how one's personal economic situation has developed since the respective president took office. Ronald Reagan asked this in the 1980 TV duel against Jimmy Carter: "Are you better off than you were four years ago?" - "Are you feeling better than you were four years ago?"

Trump's second term in office only lasts two years. In the Ipsos survey, only 15 percent said they were feeling better, 48 complained that things had gotten worse, and 36 percent felt no change. For voters for whom the cost of living is a deciding factor when casting their votes, this result is certainly not an argument to vote Republican.

However, there is not much confidence in a democratically controlled Congress. Only 28 percent believe that their situation would improve as a result, and 28 percent even expect it to worsen. These numbers show why the Democrats are not benefiting more clearly from Trump's weakness. The confidence in their work is also not very high.

A look at the past two years shows that calling for “affordability” can win elections in the USA. But afterwards you are quickly blamed for the problems that you yourself complained about before the election.

This topic in the program: BR24 Radio | News | Oct 15, 2026 | 8:51 a.m