Exit polls from New Jersey and Virginia have delivered some troubling signs for President Donald Trump, showing that many voters are unhappy with his leadership and the direction of the country.
While exit polls used to be a reliable way to predict who would win elections, they now mostly serve as a snapshot of voter sentiment among people who cast their ballots in person, since early and mail-in voting have become much more common.
In New Jersey, early voting leaned heavily toward Democrats—51% compared to just 29% for Republicans. Among those who voted on Election Day, 55% said they disapprove of Trump’s performance as president, and 65% said they feel either angry or dissatisfied with the direction the country is heading.
NBC News reported that Trump’s approval rating is underwater in both New Jersey and Virginia, two states that have consistently voted against him.
In Virginia, CNN found that around 20% of voters have a household connection to the federal government, either through employment or contracting. Many said they’ve felt some financial strain due to recent government budget cuts, though only a small portion said those cuts had a major effect on their lives.
Trump’s immigration policies are also deeply unpopular in Virginia. More than half of voters believe his mass deportation plans have gone too far. On social issues, 61% of voters in the state said abortion should remain legal in most or all cases.
Although these contests are taking place in traditionally Democratic states, the results still show a significant decline in Trump’s support since November 2024. In both New Jersey and Virginia, his approval numbers have dropped, reflecting broader frustration with the economy and his leadership style.
NBC News highlighted that economic concerns, particularly the high cost of living, remain top of mind for voters. Most people said they are either financially stagnant or falling behind, with fewer than ever feeling that they are getting ahead.
Despite this, Trump painted a rosy picture of the economy during an interview with CBS News over the weekend. “The country is doing very well,” he said, boasting that the stock market had reached record highs during his time in office. “It’s hit an all-time high 48 times during my nine-month period. We’re doing really well, and everybody knows it.”
When CBS host Norah O’Donnell pushed back, noting that a strong stock market doesn’t benefit everyone, Trump insisted, “It does. Oh, it does, it does.”
Meanwhile, in Virginia’s exit polls, 8 in 10 voters said their votes were cast for their preferred candidate, not simply against the opponent—showing a sense of enthusiasm rather than just opposition voting.
In New Jersey, the race between Rep. Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli is particularly close. Ciattarelli’s supporters say they’re motivated by a desire for change, while Sherrill’s backers emphasize honesty and trustworthiness as key reasons for their support.
More voters view Sherrill’s campaign as fair, whereas opinions about Ciattarelli’s fairness are more divided. According to CNN, Ciattarelli’s supporters are slightly more likely than Sherrill’s to describe their vote as a positive choice rather than an act of opposition.
Overall, the exit polls show that while some voters remain loyal to Trump, many are growing weary of his leadership—and the economic frustrations, social tensions, and political fatigue may be taking a toll on his support even in places where he’s already unpopular.
