Key Election Indicators

Overall Satisfaction

Americans’ overall level of satisfaction with the way things are going in the country is quite low, currently at 35%. The chart displays the trend in satisfaction for midterm election years since 1990. Satisfaction with the state of the nation this year has averaged just 31%. This is at low levels that Gallup also observed in 1982 and 1994, both years in which the incumbent party lost significant numbers of congressional seats. This suggests a difficult environment for Republicans in the elections this November.

General Mood of the Nation
(Percent saying satisfied with the way things are going)
Among National Adults

Year	Election outcome	Net change in Dem. seats	Jan.	Feb.	Mar.	Apr.	May	Jun.	Jul.	Aug.	Sep. (1)	Sep. (2)	Sep. (3)	Oct. (1)	Oct. (2)	Oct. (3)	Final Poll
1974	59-41 D	+43
1978	55-46 D	-11
1982	56-44 D	+26				25						24
1986	--	+5			66			69			58
1990	54-46 D	+9		55					45	43	51		37		29	31
1994	54-47 R	-53	35	36	35	32	33		33							31
1998	50-50 R	+5	63	62		58	59			62
2002	52-48 R	-3	65	61	61	61	56	52	49	47	47			47			48
2006	--	--	35	35	29	27	25	30	32	28	32				30		35

In general, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way things are going in the United States at this time?

	Satisfied	Dissatisfied	No opinion
	%	%	%
2006
2006 Nov 2-5	35	61	4
2006 Oct 9-12	30	68	2
2006 Sep 7-10	32	67	2
2006 Aug 7-10	28	69	3
2006 Jul 21-23	33	65	2
2006 Jul 6-9	32	65	3
2006 Jun 1-4	30	67	2
2006 May 8-11	25	72	3
2006 Apr 10-13	27	71	2
2006 Mar 13-16	29	68	2
2006 Feb 6-9	35	62	3
2006 Jan 20-22	35	62	3
2006 Jan 9-12	36	61	3

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Election 2006