Democrats top Republicans on economy for first time since 2010: Fox News poll

A new Fox News poll found Democrats have the edge over Republicans on economic issues for the first time since 2010.

The survey, released Wednesday, found that 52 percent of respondents think Democrats would do a better job on the economy, while 48 percent backed Republicans on the issue. 

The last time Fox News recorded a Democratic edge on the economy, it was May 2010 — as the country was emerging from the Great Recession. Since then, the outlet had conducted 10 polls on the subject until the latest one, with the GOP holding the advantage on each and holding as high as a 15-point edge on the economy in January 2022 and February 2023. 

Republicans held the advantage on other issues, including border security by 16 percentage points, crime and immigration by 8 percentage points each and national security by 6 percentage points.

But the economy remains the dominant issue, with 26 percent of respondents saying that inflation, prices, the cost of living and affordability combined constitute the most important issue facing the country, while 17 percent of respondents said that about the economy and jobs. 

Those two issues were followed on the priority list by the war in Iran, which 11 percent of respondents pointed to as the most important issue. 

Although a ceasefire remains in place, the economic impacts of the conflict have not abated. The inflation rate in March was 3.3 percent, a jump of 0.9 percentage points from February and 1.3 percentage points above the Federal Reserve’s target rate of 2 percent. 

The cost of energy, which has surged amid the war with Iran and the Middle Eastern country’s restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, was also up 12.5 percent last month. That marked an increase of 12 percentage points relative to February. 

Just 34 percent of respondents to the Fox News poll approved of President Trump’s handling of the economy, while 66 percent disapproved. Only a slighter higher percentage, 37 percent, approved of his handling of Iran. 

That reality has raised Democrats’ hopes of regaining control of at least one chamber of Congress this November, after a string of victories last year and in the first few months of this year. 

The Fox News poll was conducted April 17-20 through a mix of phone and online surveys with 1,001 respondents. It has a margin of error of 3 percentage points.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

4 GOP senators vote against adding SAVE America Act to budget package

2 Republicans break with party as GOP defeats budget amendment to lower health ...

5 takeaways from first major California governor’s debate after Swalwell exit

Senators to introduce Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act for SNAP recipients

House Republicans grumbling about ‘skinny’ ICE funding package complicates ...

2 GOP senators break ranks on final Senate budget vote

House Judiciary Democrats demand Patel take alcohol disorders test following ...

Watch live: Trump gives remarks on health care affordability

Collins, Sullivan break with Senate GOP leaders on amendment to reverse SNAP ...

3 GOP senators break with leaders over addressing insurance companies’ denial ...

New York Times alleges FBI investigated journalist after report about Patel ...

Pentagon dismisses report it could take 6 months to reopen Strait of Hormuz

Rove: 3 Democratic White House hopefuls ‘have elements of a winning formula’

Jeffries warns Democrats might not support FISA reauthorization if Patel ...

Senate Republicans adopt budget resolution in late-night voting marathon

Who’s out in spring Trump administration shake-up?

DOJ watchdog to review department’s compliance with Epstein files law

Carlson’s ‘misinformation’ campaign ‘dangerous’: Sarah Huckabee ...

© The Hill