Utah voters favor Republicans in midterms despite Trump disapproval, poll finds

Deseret News/Hinckley Institute survey shows loyalty holding while enthusiasm flags

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published27 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Sources2 outlets

A majority of Utah voters disapprove of President Trump's job performance but still intend to vote Republican in the upcoming midterm elections, according to a new Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll conducted by Morning Consult.

Fifty-two percent of Utah voters say they disapprove of Trump's performance nearly halfway through his second term, while 46% approve. Those numbers are better than the president's standing nationally, where 56% of US voters disapprove and 41% approve.

"There is dissatisfaction not just across the country, but in the state of Utah with President Trump. But dissatisfaction does not mean defection," Jason Perry, director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics, told the Deseret News. "Clearly, in the state of Utah, voters are looking at their discomfort with some of the things with President Donald Trump, but it's not translating to them changing their party necessarily."

Trump's faltering approval is partly attributed to his handling of the war in Iran, which began in February. Forty-one percent of Utah voters approve of recent military actions in Iran, slightly above the 38% nationally, while 52% disapprove. Only 38% of Utahns support Trump's handling of the conflict, and 56% disapprove, slightly below the national disapproval rating of 58%.

Still, Utah voters lean Republican on the midterm ballot. Half say they would vote for the Republican candidate over the Democrat, compared with 39% for the Democrat, while Democrats lead nationally, 48% to 42%.

"Republican loyalty is still strong in Utah, but loyalty and enthusiasm are not the same thing," Perry said. "The top issue for Utahns continues to be the economy and their ability to provide for their family."

The Republican Party has split approval in Utah, with 49% approving and 47% disapproving, while Democrats are underwater with 37% approving and 58% disapproving.

A Democrat, Ben McAdams, is expected to win the 1st Congressional District, which would send a Democrat to Congress for the first time in six years after the redrawn map created a district favoring Democrats in Salt Lake County. Republican incumbents are expected to win the other three districts.

Perry said the lack of competitive races could suppress turnout. "The concern isn't really just about the approval of President Trump. It's about making sure that the Republican Party shows up to vote."

The state poll surveyed 875 registered Utah voters from Oct. 13-20 with a margin of error of 3 percentage points; the national poll surveyed 2,050 registered voters with a margin of error of 2 percentage points.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

The poll shows disapproval of Trump does not automatically translate into support for Democrats, even in a state without competitive races, which could shape how both parties campaign in the final weeks before the midterms.
Turnout, rather than party switching, is flagged as the main risk for Republicans in Utah, where most seats are expected to stay with incumbents.
The 1st Congressional District race could give Utah its first Democrat in Congress in six years, a consequence of redistricting rather than a broader swing.

Background

Utah is historically one of the most reliably Republican states in the country. This poll was taken between Oct. 13 and 20, less than a month before the midterm elections, at a time when Trump's approval is under water nationally, partly attributed to his handling of the war in Iran that began in February. The survey contrasts state sentiment with national polling on the same questions.

What to Watch

Whether dissatisfied Utah Republicans turn out to vote on election day, in a state where races are not expected to be competitive.
The result in Utah's 1st Congressional District, where Democrat Ben McAdams is expected to win against the state's recent Republican streak.
How the economy, Utah voters' top issue, interacts with the Iran conflict in the final stretch of the campaign.

Sources

Utah voters still favor Republicans in midterms even with Trump approval underwater · Deseret News Utah
Utah voters still favor Republicans in midterms even with Trump approval underwater · Deseret News Politics

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedJason Perry said, “There is dissatisfaction not just across the country, but in the state of Utah with President Trump. But dissatisfaction does not mean defection.”Deseret News Utah: ““There is dissatisfaction not just across the country, but in the state of Utah with President Trump. But dissatisfaction does not mean defection,” Jason Perry, director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics, told the Deseret News.”
SupportedJason Perry said voters’ discomfort with Trump is not necessarily translating into a change of party.Deseret News Utah: ““Clearly, in the state of Utah, voters are looking at their their discomfort with some of the things with President Donald Trump, but it’s not translating to them changing their party necessarily.””
SupportedJason Perry said Republican loyalty remains strong in Utah, but loyalty and enthusiasm are not the same thing.Deseret News Utah: ““Republican loyalty is still strong in in Utah, but loyalty and enthusiasm are not the same thing,” Perry said.”
SupportedJason Perry said the top issue for Utahns continues to be the economy and their ability to provide for their family.Deseret News Utah: ““The top issue for Utahns continues to be the economy and and their ability to provide for their family””
SupportedJason Perry said the concern was making sure the Republican Party shows up to vote.Deseret News Utah: ““The concern isn’t really just about the approval of President Trump. It’s about making sure that the Republican Party shows up to vote.””
SupportedUtah voters favor Republicans in the midterms despite Trump disapproval, according to a poll.Deseret News Utah: “Still, Utah voters are still throwing their support behind the Republican Party when it comes to the upcoming midterm elections.”
Partly supportedThe survey shows Republican loyalty holding while enthusiasm flags.Deseret News Utah: ““Republican loyalty is still strong in in Utah, but loyalty and enthusiasm are not the same thing,” Perry said.”
Partly supportedA majority of Utah voters who disapprove of Trump nevertheless intend to vote Republican.Deseret News Utah: “A majority of Utah voters (52%) say they disapprove of Trump’s job performance”
SupportedThe poll found 52% of Utah voters disapprove of Trump’s job performance and 46% approve; nationally, 56% disapprove and 41% approve.Deseret News Utah: “A majority of Utah voters (52%) say they disapprove of Trump’s job performance nearly halfway through his second term while just 46% say they approve. Still, those numbers are better than how the president is faring nationally as 56% of U.S. voters say they disapprove compared to 41% who approve”
SupportedForty-one percent of Utah voters approve of recent military actions in Iran, compared with 38% nationally; 52% of Utahns disapprove.Deseret News Utah: “Only 41% of Utah voters say they approve of recent military actions in Iran, slightly higher than national polling that shows U.S. voters at 38%”
SupportedThirty-eight percent of Utahns support Trump’s handling of the Iran conflict, while 56% disapprove; national disapproval is 58%.Deseret News Utah: “About 56% of Utah voters say they disapprove of the president’s strategy related to the conflict, slightly lower than the national disapproval rating of 58%”
SupportedThe state survey sampled 875 registered Utah voters from Oct. 13–20, with a 3-point margin of error; the national survey sampled 2,050 registered voters, with a 2-point margin of error.Deseret News Utah: “The state poll surveyed 875 registered Utah voters with a margin of error of 3 percentage points; the national poll surveyed 2,050 registered voters with a margin of error of 2 percentage points.”