Exit polls show voters unhappy with Trump’s economic policies

CNN exit polling finds majorities  disapproving of Trump’s handling of the economy and sending a message of opposition at the ballot box

NEW YORK (MNTV) – As voting ended Tuesday, CNN exit polls showed that Americans across several battleground states are unhappy with President Donald Trump’s economic policies. Rising costs, inflation, and fears over job security have emerged as the defining themes of this year’s elections, overshadowing local issues and uniting voters in frustration over the state of the economy.

The CNN exit poll, conducted by SSRS through thousands of interviews before and on Election Day, found that in four key contests—the governor’s races in Virginia and New Jersey, the New York City mayoral race, and California’s Proposition 50 referendum—majorities disapproved of Trump’s overall performance. Strong disapproval far outweighed strong approval, indicating a widening gap between the president and the electorate less than a year into his second term.

In Virginia, where Democrat Abigail Spanberger won the governor’s race, more than half of voters said their ballot was intended as a message to Trump, with nine in ten of his critics backing Spanberger over Republican Winsome Earle-Sears. While many Virginians rated their state’s economy positively, a majority said recent federal spending cuts had hurt their family finances.

In New Jersey, voters echoed that economic anxiety. Nearly seven in ten said property taxes were a major problem, and six in ten cited electricity costs as a strain. Democrat Mikie Sherrill defeated Republican Jack Ciattarelli as discontent with Trump’s national policies outweighed frustration with the outgoing Democratic governor, Phil Murphy.

In New York City, where Democrat Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor, cost of living dominated concerns. Nearly 60 percent of voters said housing and rent were their top issues, and about four in ten said the candidates’ positions on Israel and federal aid to cities influenced their vote. While Mamdani’s campaign focused on affordability, former governor Andrew Cuomo’s independent bid drew voters worried about crime and city management, while Republican Curtis Sliwa’s base prioritized public safety.

In California, where voters decided on Proposition 50—a measure tied to redistricting and congressional control—economic pessimism was widespread. About three-quarters of respondents said they were “dissatisfied or angry” with the direction of the country, and more than 80 percent said the cost of living in their area was unaffordable. Many also opposed Trump administration plans to deploy the National Guard in major cities and criticized federal immigration enforcement as excessive.

Across all four contests, CNN’s exit polls found that the economy far outweighed all other issues, from crime to climate change. While Democrats were not viewed especially favorably, voters said their choices were more about sending a message of disapproval to Trump than endorsing any particular party.

The findings highlight a growing national sentiment that Trump’s economic approach—marked by spending cuts, protectionist trade measures, and tension with the Federal Reserve—has failed to ease everyday financial pressure. As one Virginia voter told CNN, “It feels like everything costs more, and Washington isn’t listening.”

With inflation still high and federal support shrinking in several states, Tuesday’s results serve as an early warning for the White House: economic discontent, more than any single political issue, is reshaping the American electoral landscape.