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It Was the Prices: Exit Poll Shows Voters Blamed Trump for What They Pay

75% rated the economy badly, more than 80% worried about prices for necessities, and Democrats took the lead on the economy.

Published 2026-11-04

An NBC News exit poll found most voters rated the economy poorly and blamed President Trump's policies for it. 75% called the economy "not so good" or "poor," and 65% said his policies made the economy worse. Voters preferred Democrats over Republicans on the economy, 43% to 37%, a flip from 2024.

The numbers

75% of voters rated the economy "not so good" or "poor," according to the NBC News exit poll. More than 80% said they were worried about the price of necessities: gas and diesel fuel, food and groceries, utilities and health care. 69% said the economic system favors the wealthy; only 31% said it favors most Americans. 65% said Trump's policies had made the economy worse, while just 27% said better. 62% said higher-than-usual prices are more because of Trump's policies than factors outside his control, and 65% said his tariffs hurt the national economy. Voters preferred Democrats to Republicans on the economy, 43% to 37%, which NBC calls a flip from 2024. All figures are from the NBC News exit poll.

The mood

Three in four voters were unhappy with the direction of the country, and 57% said life for the next generation will be worse, per NBC News. Trump's Election Day approval was 38%, the lowest for any president since 2008.

Affordability candidates won

Democrats spent the cycle talking about grocery bills, gas and rent. The NBC News exit poll suggests it worked. The winners ran on it. NBC News reported that Keisha Lance Bottoms centered her Georgia campaign on affordability. In South Carolina, senator-elect Annie Andrews returned to Shem Creek, where she first called on Washington to "lower the damn diesel." She wrote on X that lowering costs would be her "top priority."

And immigration

The exit poll found 57% of voters said Trump's immigration actions had "gone too far," according to NBC News. In Colorado, about 55% were voting against a measure requiring police to notify federal authorities when someone whose immigration status is in question is charged with certain crimes, as of the State Court Report's count; results weren't official yet.