By LINLEY SANDERS, JOSH BOAK, and AMELIA THOMSON-DEVEAUX, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — In the recent elections, voters in key races across the country made their decisions with President Donald Trump in mind, either in opposition to him or considering him irrelevant, according to the AP Voter Poll.
The results were not an endorsement of Trump’s time in office so far.
This sentiment was echoed in the governor races in New Jersey and Virginia, the mayoral contest in New York City, and a state proposition in California to redraw congressional districts.
The AP Voter Poll, which surveyed over 17,000 voters in these locations, revealed that a majority of voters disapproved of Trump’s performance as president, especially in his handling of immigration issues. While Republicans and Republican-leaning voters were more likely to approve of Trump’s job performance, many still did not consider him a significant factor in their voting decision.
A Focus on Opposition to Trump
Historically, sitting presidents tend to face challenges in off-year elections following their first year in office, and Trump was no exception as Democrats celebrated wins in key races this week.
In Virginia and New Jersey, nearly half of voters said Trump did not impact their decision to vote for governor. Despite some last-minute efforts on social media and tele-rallies, Trump’s influence on Republican candidates in these states was limited.
The mayoral race in New York City also saw Trump playing a minor role in voters’ decisions, even with his threats and endorsements. Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani won, potentially setting up a clash with the Trump administration.
For those who did consider Trump in their vote, it was often to vote against him.
In New Jersey and Virginia, about 4 in 10 voters cast their ballots in opposition to Trump, while fewer did so in support of the president.
In California, Trump’s influence was more pronounced as voters weighed in on redistricting efforts to favor Democrats in congressional seats. This move was seen as a response to Trump’s attempts to redraw districts in Republican states to maintain GOP control in the upcoming midterm elections.
About 4 in 10 California voters did not consider Trump in their decision, while half voted in objection to him and a smaller percentage supported him.
Disapproval of Trump’s Leadership
A significant number of voters expressed disapproval of Trump’s performance since taking office earlier this year, posing a challenge for Republican candidates who often align with the president.
In Virginia and New Jersey, only about 4 in 10 voters approved of Trump’s job performance. Disapproval was even higher in Democratic strongholds like California and New York City.
Those who disapproved of Trump were more likely to vote against him, while supporters of his job performance tended to see him as less of a factor in their voting decision.
While most Republican voters in Virginia and New Jersey approved of Trump, the president was not a significant motivator for many of them.
Concerns Over Immigration Policies
In recent years, Trump has focused on immigration issues, particularly border security, to appeal to voters. However, in this election cycle, economic concerns took precedence over immigration for most voters.
Trump’s aggressive approach to deportations and arrests of undocumented immigrants was met with disapproval by many voters in California, New Jersey, New York City, and Virginia.
While opinions were divided on whether the next governors should cooperate with the Trump administration on immigration enforcement, voters in New York City and California were more inclined to oppose such collaboration.
The 2025 AP Voter Poll, conducted by SSRS, provides valuable insights into voter sentiments in California, New Jersey, New York City, and Virginia. The margin of sampling error for the poll is around 2.0-2.2 percentage points in each location.
