A recent survey of New Hampshire registered voters conducted by the Saint Anselm College Survey Center (SACSC) at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics (NHIOP) shows President Donald Trump beginning his term with a modest increase in popularity with 46% of voters having a favorable impression of Trump, compared to 53% with an unfavorable view. This marks a slight improvement from the pre-election numbers of 44%-55%.
The survey indicates that Trump’s election has instilled a greater sense of optimism among voters, with 44% believing the country is now heading in the right direction. This represents a significant increase from the previous high of 37% recorded in November 2019.
The economy remains voters' top concern. Twenty-three percent (23%) cited the economy and inflation as the most important issues facing the country, followed by elections and democracy at 19%, and government spending and taxes at 15%. A notable 88% of voters expressed concern about the national debt, while only 12% reported little to no concern.
Trump’s economic policies, however, appear to be struggling to gain traction. Only 46% approve of his overall handling of the economy, and just 41% support his proposal of imposing 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, which has been one of his signature issues.
Neil Levesque, executive director of the NH Institute of Politics, noted: “President Donald Trump remains a polarizing figure in New Hampshire. However, there is a noticeable shift toward optimism regarding the country’s direction, and we see clear divergence in the popularity of his various policies. That said, his economic policies are faltering, which is concerning given that the economy is still the top issue for voters.”
The survey also revealed stark contrasts between the two major political parties. Among self-identified Republicans, 91% report being happy with the direction of their party, while only 29% of self-identified Democrats express satisfaction with the direction of theirs. This suggests that Democrats are struggling to present a unifying figure capable of challenging Trump’s hold on his party.
Levesque continued, “Looking ahead to the midterm elections, it’s clear that Republican voters are united in their support for their party, while Democrats remain divided.”