The Trump job approval rating in New York stands at 38% approval and 60% disapproval among registered voters in the latest October 2026 Marist Poll. The results indicate that President Donald Trump faces a significant approval gap in New York as voters prepare for the November midterm elections. The survey also highlights how opinions about the president are influencing congressional voting preferences across the state.
Latest Trump Approval Rating in New York
The October 2026 Marist Poll provides the clearest recent statewide measurement of Trump’s job approval among New York registered voters. The survey was conducted from October 1 through October 4, 2026, and included 1,361 registered voters.
| Polling measure | Result |
|---|---|
| Approve of Trump’s job performance | 38% |
| Disapprove of Trump’s job performance | 60% |
| Net approval rating | -22 percentage points |
| Survey sample | 1,361 registered voters |
| Margin of error | ±3.6 percentage points |
The figures show that disapproval exceeds approval by 22 percentage points. In practical terms, approximately six in 10 registered voters surveyed disapprove of the president’s performance, compared with slightly fewer than four in 10 who approve.
The poll’s margin of error is important when interpreting the findings. Survey results estimate the opinions of a larger population based on a sample, and the margin of error describes some of the uncertainty involved. It does not eliminate other potential sources of survey error.
These numbers should be treated as a snapshot of public opinion during the survey period rather than a permanent measure of Trump’s popularity in New York.
Why Trump’s Approval Rating Matters in New York
New York presents a challenging political environment for Trump because the state’s electorate includes substantial Democratic, Republican and independent voting blocs. Statewide approval numbers help explain the broader political climate, but they do not mean every community or congressional district shares the same opinion.
The latest polling also comes at a consequential time. The November 3, 2026, midterm elections will determine control of the U.S. House of Representatives and could shape the balance of power in the Senate.
Presidential approval ratings can influence how voters evaluate congressional candidates, especially when national policies become central campaign issues. Candidates may emphasize their support for or opposition to the administration depending on their district’s political makeup.
The New York survey offers a particularly useful indication of that dynamic: voters were asked not only about Trump’s job performance but also about the role he plays in their congressional voting decisions.
How Trump Is Affecting New York’s 2026 Midterm Elections
The October Marist survey found that Trump’s presidency is a significant consideration for many New York voters as they approach the midterm elections.
Among respondents, 44% said their vote for Congress was mainly a vote against Trump. Another 22% said their vote was mainly a vote for the president, while 33% said he had no impact on their congressional vote.
These results suggest that opposition to Trump is a more prominent stated motivation than support for him among the voters surveyed. However, the figures do not establish how every respondent will ultimately vote or predict the final election results.
The findings also show why presidential approval and congressional voting preferences should be considered together. Some voters may disapprove of Trump but still evaluate congressional candidates based on local issues, experience or party affiliation. Others may support the president and want representatives who advance his agenda.
For Republican candidates in New York, the numbers highlight the challenge of appealing to voters who are skeptical of the administration. Democratic candidates may find opportunities to connect their campaigns to opposition to Trump’s policies, although they must still address voters’ local concerns and expectations.
New York Congressional Polling Shows a Democratic Advantage
The same October Marist survey found that Democratic congressional candidates held a statewide advantage over Republican candidates on a generic congressional ballot.
| Congressional ballot preference | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Democratic candidate | 55% |
| Republican candidate | 42% |
| Democratic lead | 13 percentage points |
The results suggest a favorable statewide environment for Democrats heading into the midterms. Nevertheless, a generic ballot question measures broad party preference rather than support for specific candidates in individual districts.
Geographic differences are especially important in New York. The survey found that Democratic congressional candidates received 73% support in New York City and 51% in the suburbs. Upstate voters, by contrast, favored Republican congressional candidates by 52%.
Independent voters were closely divided, with 49% favoring the Democratic candidate and 47% favoring the Republican.
These differences demonstrate why a statewide approval rating cannot fully explain the electoral outlook. New York City, suburban communities and upstate districts have different political characteristics, and competitive races may turn on local candidates and issues.
The relationship between Trump’s approval rating and congressional preferences is therefore meaningful, but it should not be interpreted as proof that the same party will win every race.
Trump’s Approval Rating and New York’s Economic Concerns
Economic conditions are another important part of the political picture. Household budgets, housing expenses, food prices, energy costs and employment opportunities can influence how voters evaluate the president and other elected officials.
In the October Marist survey, 40% of New York registered voters said their family finances had worsened over the previous year. Another 18% said their finances had improved, while 41% reported little change.
The findings suggest that financial pressure is a concern for a substantial portion of the electorate. They do not, by themselves, establish that presidential policies caused every household’s financial difficulties.
Partisan differences were also apparent. Among Democrats surveyed, 48% said their personal finances had worsened, compared with 23% of Republicans.
This gap may reflect differences in economic experiences, political perspectives or both. It also illustrates why public opinion should be examined across demographic and partisan groups rather than treated as a single statewide viewpoint.
For Trump, economic perceptions are relevant because voters often judge presidential performance by whether they believe the administration is improving their financial circumstances. If voters remain dissatisfied with the cost of living, that dissatisfaction could influence their views of the administration and their choices in congressional races.
However, a poll conducted over several days cannot establish how approval will change in response to future economic developments.
How New York Compares With National Trump Approval Polls
Statewide polling provides a different perspective from national surveys. While national polls measure public opinion across the country, a New York poll reflects the views of voters living in one state.
Recent national polling has also shown substantial dissatisfaction with Trump’s performance.
A Pew Research Center survey conducted September 28 through October 4, 2026, found that 30% of U.S. adults approved of Trump’s job performance, while his overall approval rating was described as the lowest of his second term in that survey. The national findings also indicated that economic concerns remained important to voters ahead of the midterm elections.
The national and New York figures should not be compared as though they came from the same survey. The New York Marist results measure registered voters in the state, whereas the Pew figure cited here covers U.S. adults. Different survey populations, methods and sample sizes can produce different estimates.
Nevertheless, both surveys point to a difficult approval environment for Trump during the current election cycle.
New York’s 38% approval figure is higher than the 30% national figure reported in the cited Pew survey, but that numerical difference does not necessarily mean the president is performing better in New York than elsewhere. The population surveyed and the methodology must be considered before drawing that conclusion.
The most reliable approach is to use each poll to understand the population it actually measures and to look for consistent patterns across multiple surveys.
What Could Change Trump’s Approval Rating in New York?
Several developments could influence Trump’s standing among New York voters in the coming weeks and months.
Economic performance: Changes in inflation, household expenses, wages and employment could affect how voters assess the administration’s handling of the economy.
Federal policy decisions: Immigration, trade, taxation, energy and foreign policy may influence approval among different groups of voters. The direction and size of any effect would depend on how voters respond to specific decisions.
The midterm campaigns: Congressional candidates will continue to connect national political debates with local concerns. Campaign messages, candidate visibility and debates over policy could shape voter perceptions.
Regional differences: New York City, the suburbs and upstate communities may respond differently to the same national developments. Statewide figures can conceal important local shifts.
New polling results: New surveys may show whether the current approval gap remains stable, widens or narrows. Comparisons are most useful when surveys use similar populations and methods.
None of these factors guarantees that Trump’s approval rating will rise or fall. The October survey establishes a baseline for understanding current opinion, while subsequent polling will be needed to identify meaningful changes.
How to Interpret the Latest New York Approval Poll
Readers following Trump’s approval rating should distinguish among three related but different measures: job approval, personal favorability and voting intention.
Job approval measures whether respondents approve of the way the president is performing his duties. Personal favorability measures whether they hold a positive or negative view of him as a person or political figure. Voting intention measures which candidate or party respondents currently prefer in an election.
These measures can be related without being identical. A voter might disapprove of Trump’s performance but still support a Republican congressional candidate. Another voter might have a favorable personal opinion of Trump while disagreeing with a particular administration policy.
It is also important to distinguish registered voters from all adults and likely voters. Each group represents a different population, and results should not be treated as interchangeable.
Finally, one survey cannot predict the outcome of an election. Polling provides an estimate of opinion at a particular time, while election results reflect the choices made by people who actually cast ballots.
For these reasons, the latest Marist results are best understood as evidence of Trump’s current standing among registered New York voters, not as a forecast of the state’s final election results.
Final Thoughts on Trump’s Job Approval Rating in New York
The latest available statewide polling identified for this article puts Trump’s job approval rating in New York at 38%, with 60% disapproving of his performance. The 22-point net approval gap indicates that more registered voters surveyed are dissatisfied with his presidency than satisfied.
The same survey highlights a Democratic advantage on the generic congressional ballot, regional differences in party preferences and widespread concern about household finances. Together, these findings provide useful context for understanding New York’s political climate ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections.
Future polling will help determine whether these patterns persist and whether changes in economic conditions, federal policy or campaign activity influence voter attitudes.
What do you think about Trump’s approval rating in New York? Share your opinion in the comments and stay updated for the latest polling developments.