Since the U.S. Supreme Court delivered a late April decision weakening the Voting Rights Act, several Republican-led states have been rushing to redraw congressional maps ahead of the midterm elections. Tennessee lawmakers pushed through a map so bold last week, it could deliver a 9-0 Republican advantage to the state’s congressional delegation.
The winner-takes-all approach had elected Democrats concerned last week at the NewDeal Forum’s 2026 Summit in Raleigh. The left-leaning national nonprofit is focused on economic growth and creating sustainable progress in areas like housing, transit, childcare and voting rights.
Tom Jensen, director of Raleigh-based Public Policy Polling, told those attending the conference that increasing frustration with the economy is what is driving voters this year.
A new national survey of 680 registered voters finds Americans deeply dissatisfied with the economy. Forty-three percent said they are falling behind economically, while just 13% say they are getting ahead. At the same time, 43% rated the economy as “poor.” Nearly 30% said groceries are the biggest pressure on households, with 1 in 4 saying gas prices and energy costs are a top financial worry.
Jensen said the poll offers more sobering news for Republicans hoping President Donald Trump can persuade voters that he can fix the affordability crisis.
“Basically, [Trump’s] numbers right now are the worst we’ve found for him the entire decade that he’s been on the scene,” said Jensen. “He’s more unpopular now than he ever was during his first term.”
Jensen said about 20% of Trump voters from 2024 are no longer happy with the job he’s doing. The poll found 27% of Republicans surveyed felt their own family was falling behind economically.
“We actually had one poll recently where only 67% of Trump’s voters approved of the job he’s doing. In some areas, he’s losing as many as a third of the people who voted for him last time around,” said Jensen.
Pain at the pump
Jensen said with the midterms in mind, Democrats need to stay laser-focused on gas prices, groceries and rising health care costs, and not try to respond to every political story of the day.
Voters say they are struggling economically as the price of gas rises well above $4 a gallon. (Photo: Clayton Henkel/NC Newsline)Jane Flegal, a senior fellow with the Searchlight Institute, a left-of-center DC-think tank, noted that Democrats internally are divided on how to best regain the public’s trust on economic issues. She asked Jensen whether a populist anti-corporate message or a more pro-growth, pro-business message would be more appealing to voters.
Jensen said most voters are not interested in an intellectual argument. They just want their financial picture to improve.
“I hate to dumb things down so much — gas prices are out of control. There’s your story,” said Jensen.
Likewise, Jensen said the issue of voting rights and the recent gerrymandering of maps may not be a winning issue with voters this fall.
“The impact of the Supreme Court decision last week will be bad. Republicans are going to win more congressional seats this year than they otherwise would have, but I will say they may end up drawing themselves some districts that they don’t do as well in,” said Jensen.
On the generic ballot, Democrats nationally hold a four-point lead, 46% to 42%, with 12% undecided. Jenson said if that 12% breaks more for Democrats than Republicans, it’s conceivable that Democrats could even gain control of the North Carolina House this year.
“This is about the first time that I would have said that in the last 16 years,” said Jensen. “I actually think the recent spike in gas prices has done more than anything [in shifting voter attitudes.]”
North Carolina’s U.S. Senate candidates lean in on affordability
The high cost of living has become a recurring theme in North Carolina’s closely watched U.S. Senate race.
Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley acknowledged during a recent appearance on the Ruthless podcast that “affordability is a very real issue.” Whatley said his approach to tax policy and regulatory policy would help drive costs lower for consumers.
“If somebody gets to keep more of their money, things are more affordable,” Whatley said.
Former Gov. Roy Cooper, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, is campaigning on the slogan “Make Stuff Cost Less.” He has hosted 10 events since March to talk directly with voters about his ideas to lower the cost of food and groceries, health care, utilities, housing and childcare.
New Polling: Increasingly pessimistic, North Carolinians favor more guardrails on presidency
Western Carolina University political science professor Chris Cooper (no relation to Roy Cooper) said this messaging matters given the largely negative view of the economy most North Carolinians hold right now.
Cooper also said candidate quality may also benefit Democrats this cycle, even in a purple state.
“Here’s a Nash County former state senator, who presents very much from rural North Carolina. Those small margins have been enough [to win] and I think they will likely be enough in this cycle too,” said Cooper.
Cooper believes Roy Cooper’s success is not just his relatability to North Carolinians, it’s his ability to lose rural North Carolina by smaller margins than other Democrats.
“That’s the magic trick, that’s how he’s been able to pull this off time in and time out,” said Professor Cooper.
As for the redrawing of congressional districts witnessed in recent days, Cooper warns “every tweak of the map increases the confusion voters experience, and the alienation they feel toward the entire enterprise of democracy. “
Western Carolina University political science professor Chris Cooper (no relation to Roy Cooper) tells those attending the NewDEAL forum that 2026 election messaging matters, given the largely negative view of the economy most voters hold right now. (Photo: Clayton Henkel/NC Newsline)Hence then, the article about will map mayhem decide nc s midterms one national pollster says not if democrats stay on message was published today ( ) and is available on NC news line ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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