Midterms Could Reset Congress Agenda for 2027
Business owners should track the November 3 House and Senate results, since control of Congress will shape the 2027 policy and regulatory environment.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Employment
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A national AtlasIntel poll of 3,566 U.S. adults, conducted October 28 to November 1, 2026, found 40 percent positive ratings for both Trump and Biden and 54 percent for Obama. The poll was released ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, which contest all 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats.
Why it matters
Public sentiment toward national figures is being measured as the midterms approach, and the results will shape control of the next Congress, whose term begins January 3, 2027. For operators, the immediate question is whether public dissatisfaction translates into votes against Republican candidates, which could affect the policy environment businesses face in 2027.
The AtlasIntel survey interviewed 3,566 U.S. adults with a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points, and it found Trump's negative rating at 58 percent versus Obama's 44 percent. A separate Reuters/Ipsos poll found 32 percent of Americans approved of Trump's job performance, and the November 3 elections contest all 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats.
The players
AtlasIntel
A polling firm that conducts national opinion surveys using its Random Digital Recruitment method.
CNN/SSRS
A joint polling operation pairing CNN with SSRS that surveys registered voters on political figures and issues.
Reuters/Ipsos
A polling partnership between Reuters and Ipsos that measures public approval of national political leaders.
The details
AtlasIntel measured current perceptions of Trump, Biden, and Obama rather than comparing their ratings at matching points in their presidencies, so the results describe present sentiment rather than a like-for-like historical benchmark. The survey used its Random Digital Recruitment method, and its results sit alongside other recent polling, including a CNN/SSRS survey of registered voters conducted October 15 to 18 and a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted October 22 to 26. Together these surveys give operators a snapshot of how the electorate views national leaders heading into the midterms.
Timeline
October 15 to 18, 2026: CNN/SSRS survey of registered voters conducted.
October 22 to 26, 2026: Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted.
October 28 to November 1, 2026: AtlasIntel survey interviewed U.S. adults.
November 3, 2026: Midterm elections held, contesting all 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats.
Market Landscape
Public approval readings of national figures are being collected in the weeks before the November 3, 2026 midterms, which will determine control of the next Congress. The result will indicate whether the sentiment measured in these national surveys carries over into House and Senate outcomes.
Operators should treat the November 3 midterms as a potential shift in the legislative agenda for 2027, since control of Congress will determine which business rules advance. Watch the House and Senate outcomes in early November and factor the likely policy direction into planning for hiring, compliance, and procurement.
The takeaway
The main operating insight is that the midterm results will set the legislative direction businesses face from 2027 onward, so the November 3 outcome is the key signal to track. Review the final House and Senate composition once results are certified and reassess any planned policy-dependent investments against the new Congress's priorities.
What happens next
The midterm elections on November 3, 2026 will decide control of the House and Senate, with the new Congress beginning its term on January 3, 2027.
Further reading
For more on how the midterm contest could reshape labor and hiring conditions, see Employment coverage across the United States.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Newsweek.
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