Exit polls of 2026 voters find Democrats had edge on all issues aside from immigration

NBC exit polls showed 2026 voters preferred Democrats on every issue aside from immigration, with affordability and economics playing a pivotal role.As Republicans scramble to comprehend the reasons for, and scale of, their loss on Tuesday, exit polls provide the first hints of what went wrong. A sizable majority had negative views of President Donald Trump and his policies, and preferred Democrats on nearly every issue, a major reversal from 2024. The single exception was on immigration, where Republicans were preferred by 44% of voters, compared to 41% who preferred Democrats.The exit polls also showed that the election came down to the economy, with 39% of voters listing it as the single most important issue facing the country, followed by the state of democracy at 32%. Just 14% listed immigration as the most important issue. Other questions further showcased the economy’s importance: 89% said affordability was a crucial or major factor in their vote, with 49% of voters calling it “crucial.” Economic pessimism was high, with 75% of voters saying the state of the economy was “not so good or poor.”Relatedly, the war with Iran also played a significant role, with 74% saying the war played a crucial or major role in their vote. The price of gas and diesel also played a major role, with 87% of voters very or somewhat concerned. Of those voters, 57% went for Democrats.The other big affordability issue, the cost of groceries, also helped democrats. Around 88% of voters were very or somewhat concerned with the cost of food and groceries, and 58% of them voted Democrat.2026 MIDTERM ELECTIONS LIVE UPDATES: LATEST NEWS, RESULTS AND ANALYSISThough voters expressed broad displeasure with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, those holding immigration as a top issue went for Republicans. A total of 52% of people who said immigration enforcement played a crucial or major role in their vote went Republican.Another sleeper issue was artificial intelligence and data centers, with 56% of voters saying the issue played a crucial or major role in their vote, and two-thirds of these voted Democratic. Democrats’ monopolization of messaging on data centers was noted by Republicans early in the cycle, but apparently they weren’t able to counter it in time.