Dissatisfaction with President Obama, along with concern about the future of the economy and a sense the country is on the wrong track, contributed to a wave of Republican pickups, including Republican control of the U.S. Senate and additional gains in the U.S. House of Representatives.
A 59 percent majority feels dissatisfied or angry toward President Obama, while 41 percent are enthusiastic or satisfied with his administration’s performance. This is similar to his job rating: 44 percent approval vs. 54 percent disapproval.
Nationally, a third of all voters said opposition to the president was a reason for their in vote in House races, while only 20 percent expressed support for Obama in their choice of candidate.
Reason for U.S. House Vote
Support Obama 19 percent
Oppose Obama 33 percent
Not A Factor 45 percent
Meanwhile, there is a sense among voters that the economy continues to struggle: 70 percent rate the country's current economic condition as not good or poor, while 28 percent say the economy is in good condition and only 1 percent calls it excellent.
Condition of Nation’s Economy
Excellent 1 percent
Good 28 percent
Not good 48 percent
Poor 22 percent
Just over three-quarters of Americans -- 77 percent -- are at least somewhat worried about the direction of the nation’s economy in the next year, while 22 percent said they were not too worried or not at all worried.
Worried About Future of U.S. Economy?
Very 37 percent
Somewhat 40 percent
Not too 18 percent
Not at all 4 percent
More than a quarter say their family’s financial situation has gotten better over the past two years, while a similar number say their situation has gotten worse. Those who say it has gotten better supported the Democratic candidate for Congress by a 60 percent to 38 percent margin. Those who say it has gotten worse went for the Republican candidate, 67 percent to 31 percent.
Financial Situation
Gotten better 29 percent
Gotten worse 25 percent
Same 45 percent
All of that leads to a sense the country is on the wrong track. Only 31 percent say the economy is going in the right direction, down from 46 percent in 2012. Most voters -- 65 percent -- believe the country is on the wrong track. Voters who think things are on the wrong track backed the Republican candidate in their district by a 65 percent to 30 percent margin.
Direction of the Country
Right 31 percent
Wrong 65 percent
This pessimism extends to attitudes toward life for the next generation of Americans. Nearly half think life for their children will be worse than life today, while only 22 percent say it will be better.
Life for Next Generation
Better than today 22 percent
Worse than today 48 percent
About the same 27 percent
Despite the attention to issues such as Ebola and ISIS, the economy remains most prominently on the minds of voters. Nearly half -- 45 percent -- see the economy as the most important issue facing the country. Those economy voters split 49-49 in their House vote. Health care voters went for the Democrat by 60-38 percent, while immigration voters backed the Republican by 73-25 percent.
Most Important Issue Facing Country
Economy 45 percent
Health care 25 percent
Illegal immigration 14 percent
Foreign policy 13 percent
Nearly half of voters nationally feel ObamaCare went too far, nearly doubling the number who say it didn’t go far enough. About one in five (21 percent) say the law is about right. Voters who think the law went too far went for the Republican candidate in their district by nearly 70 points.
Feelings About ObamaCare
Went too far 48 percent
Not far enough 25 percent
About right 21 percent
Only one voter in five says they can trust the government in Washington to do what is right just about always or most of the time. Most voters trust Uncle Sam only some of the time or never.
Trust Government?
Almost always 3 percent
Most of the time 17 percent
Only sometimes 60 percent
Never 18 percent
The key voting group of independents made a big difference again Tuesday. While they made up the same amount of the electorate, they were more likely to back the Republican by 10 points. In 2010, independents went for the Republican in their district by 19 points.
National House Vote
Independents
Democrats 42 percent
Republicans 54 percent
Here are the key findings in some of the most contested states.
Colorado
In a Senate election where women’s issues were central to the campaign, Sen. Mark Udall emerged the leader among that group, but it was Rep. Cory Gardner, the Republican challenger, who won the day.
Women
Udall 52 percent
Gardner 43 percent
Gardner’s support came from many groups, including independents and male voters.
Independents
Udall 43 percent
Gardner 50 percent
Men
Udall 40 percent
Gardner 56 percent
Over half of Colorado voters disapproved of President Obama’s job performance, mirroring results in many other states. Gardner won the support of these voters by an 82-13 percent margin.
Obama Job Performance
Approve 43 percent
Disapprove 55 percent
Finally, almost two thirds of Colorado voters said most illegal immigrants working in the United States should be offered a chance to apply for legal status.
Policy Toward Illegal Immigration
Legal Status 65 percent
Deport 28 percent
Georgia
In Georgia, Republican David Perdue held the open Senate seat for the Republicans, defeating Democrat Michelle Nunn and garnered enough of the vote to avoid a runoff election.
A key to his victory was the independent vote. Independents broke strongly for Perdue. Perdue received 59 percent of the independent vote, compared with 36 percent going for Nunn.
Independents
Nunn 36percent
Perdue 59percent
Swafford 5percent
Georgia voters were sending a message -- 36 percent of voters said a reason for their vote was to show opposition to President Obama, while only 19 percent said a reason for their vote was to show support for the president. Other voters said the president was not a factor.
Reason For Senate Vote
Support Obama 19percent
Oppose Obama 36percent
Not A Factor 43percent
Three-quarters of Georgia voters said who controlled the Senate factored into their vote. These voters supported Perdue by a 53 percent to 46 percent margin.
How Important Is Party Control of Senate?
Very important 76 percent
Somewhat important 15 percent
Not too important 5 percent
Not at all important 4 percent
Iowa
Republican Joni Ernst took the open Senate seat in Iowa away from the Democrats, defeating Democrat Bruce Braley. Ernst played up her farming background, which resonated with Iowa voters. More than four-in-ten voters were from rural areas, and they strongly backed her.
Rural voters
Braley 38 percent
Enrst 58 percent
More voters agreed with Ernst on the issues, than Braley.
Ernst On The Issues
Too Conservative 37 percent
Not Enough 10 percent
About Right 47 percent
Braley On The Issues
Too Liberal 44 percent
Not Liberal Enough 10 percent
About Right 37 percent
President Obama is not popular in Iowa, with 60 percent of voters disapproving of the job he is doing, while 39 percent approve.
Obama Job Performance
Approve 39 percent
Disapprove 60 percent
Kansas
Republican incumbent Pat Roberts held onto to his seat in Kansas today as the party faithful put their support behind him.
Challenger Greg Orman, won a majority of support among fellow independents.
Independents
Roberts 37 percent
Orman 54 percent
Batson 9 percent
However, Orman’s advantage among independents and early deciders was outweighed by Roberts’ advantage among Republicans, who make up 48 percent of Kansas voters. Roberts won Republicans by a 85-13 percent margin.
Party Breakdown
Democrat 25 percent
Republican 48 percent
Independent 28 percent
Despite his win, 62 percent of voters said Roberts has spent too much time away from Kansas to represent the state effectively. Those voters broke for Orman 55-38 percent.
Roberts Away From
Kansas Too Much?
Yes 62 percent
No 33 percent
But the Republican leaning in Kansas remained constant among voters Tuesday. A majority of Kansas voters said they wanted the Republicans to win control of the Senate. Only 29 percent say they prefer the Democrats to win control.
Prefer to Win Control of the Senate
Democrats 29 percent
Republicans 56 percent
Does not matter 12 percent
Louisiana
Louisiana will host a runoff between incumbent Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu and her Republican challenger Bill Cassidy. Cassidy appears to have the advantage, with voters saying they would support Cassidy in a runoff by a 51 percent to 43 percent margin
Runoff Election Vote
Landrieu 43 percent
Cassidy 51 percent
No vote 4 percent
Over half of voters -- 57 percent -- say that Landrieu agrees with the president too often, while only 34 percent say she agrees with the president about the right amount of the time.
Landrieu Agrees With Obama On The Issues
Too often 57 percent
Not enough 6 percent
About Right Amount 34 percent
North Carolina
Incumbent Democratic Senator Kay Hagan was defeated by Republican Thom Tillis in the hotly contested race in North Carolina. One problem for Hagan was President Obama, with more Tar Heel State voters viewing the administration negatively than positively.
Feelings About Obama Administration
Positive 39 percent
Negative 60 percent
Additionally, about half of North Carolina voters said Hagan agrees with Obama too often.
Hagan Agrees With Obama
Too Often 52 percent
Not Often Enough 6 percent
About Right 37 percent
Nearly 40 percent of North Carolina voters were very worried about the direction of the nation’s economy. These voters supported Tillis, 72 percent to 25 percent.
Worried About Future of U.S. Economy?
Very 39 percent
Somewhat 36 percent
Not too 19 percent
Not at all 5 percent
Virginia
In a race that is still too close to call Wednesday morning, Sen. Mark Warner received an unexpectedly strong challenge from Republican candidate, Ed Gillespie. The race was driven in part by dissatisfaction with President Obama’s job performance.
Obama job performance
Approve 40 percent
Disapprove 58 percent
Seniors, who strongly supported Warner in 2008, broke for Gillespie Tuesday, which contributed to the closeness of the race.
Seniors
Warner 46 percent
Gillespie 54 percent
Four out of five Virginia voters are worried about the direction of the nation’s economy next year. Only 40 percent of those voters went for Warner, while 58 percent went for Gillespie.
Worried About Future
Of US Economy?
Worried 82 percent
Not Worried 18 percent
Methodology
Edison Research conducted this exit poll for Fox News and interviewed over 18,000 voters as they left randomly selected polling places around the country.
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