Most Americans say U.S. heading in the wrong direction, poll finds

Spread the love

A new poll shows about 55% of registered voters think the U.S. is headed in the wrong direction, including 74% of Latino voters, a key demographic ahead of the U.S midterm elections.

The Center Square Voters’ Voice Poll, conducted by Noble Predictive Insights, surveyed 2,565 registered voters from Oct. 2-6, 2025, via opt-in online panel and text-to-web cell phone messages.

The poll found that 55% of registered voters said the country was headed in the wrong direction. Another 36% said things were going in the right direction, and 9% were unsure.

“You normally don’t see numbers this bad,” pollster Mike Noble told The Center Square. “I mean, people just don’t feel great about where we’re headed.”

Noble said more people were pessimistic about the nation’s future than optimistic.

“Half are pessimistic, with only one third optimistic, which is a little worrying,” he added.

Among Republicans, 61% said the U.S. was headed the right way and 27% said it was going in the wrong direction. Another 12% of registered Republicans were unsure.

Among Democrats, 13% said the U.S. was headed in the right direction, while 81% said it was headed in the wrong direction. Another 6% were unsure.

Among independents, 23% said the nation was going in the right direction and 63% said it was going in the wrong direction. About 14% of independents were unsure.

Broken down by race, Hispanic or Latino voters were most likely to see the country headed in the wrong direction. Among Hispanic and Latino voters, 74% said the country was going in the wrong direction. About 48% of white voters said the nation was headed in the wrong way. Among Black voters, that number was 66%.

Trump’s aggressive enforcement of immigration rules has been a hallmark of his second term in office. Trump won the presidency after campaigning heavily on his plans to address border issues. Since Trump returned to the White House, 2 million illegal aliens have left the U.S., including an estimated 1.6 million who have voluntarily self-deported and more than 400,000 deportations, according to a September report from the Department of Homeland Security.

The numbers in the latest Voters’ Voice Poll were similar to the same polling in April. At that time, 54% said the country was going in the wrong direction, while 35% said it was headed in the right direction and 11% were unsure.

The poll sample included 2,565 respondents, comprised of 978 Republicans, 948 Democrats, and 639 Independents, of which 262 lean toward neither major party, which Noble Predictive refers to as independents who, when asked if they leaned toward one of the major parties, chose neither.

The poll weighted each party – Republicans, Democrats, and True Independents – independently.

The margin of error is 2%.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Screenshot

Casey Cracks Down on Blighted Properties, Considers Parental Responsibility Ordinance

The City of Casey is intensifying its efforts to combat blight, taking formal action against a dilapidated property on East Madison Avenue and considering new measures to hold parents accountable...
Lake Land College.6

Lake Land College Invests Over $63,000 in Grammarly AI Tool to Boost Student and Staff Writing Skills

Lake Land College is making a significant investment in artificial intelligence to support academic success, with the Board of Trustees approving a two-year, $63,750 contract for a campus-wide license for...
Screenshot

Casey Faces Utility Rate Hikes Amidst Inflation and Shrinking Customer Base

Casey residents can expect to see their utility bills rise in the near future as the city grapples with the dual pressures of inflation and a declining population. During a...
Casey illinois library.1.logo graphic

What’s Happening at the Library in August?

Tuesdays, August 5, 12, 19, & 26 - 1pm is BINGO with Renee! It is FREE and no registration is required. ALL are welcome. Thursday, August 7 - At 11am...
Casey Council Meeting.2

Casey Council Approves $33.27 Million Appropriation Plan for FY 2026

The Casey City Council on Monday gave its final approval to a $33.27 million appropriation ordinance for the 2026 fiscal year. The spending plan, which sets the legal limit for...
Cecile Stephens

Cecile Stephens

May 19, 1939 - August 2, 2025 Cecile Stephens, 86, of Belton, South Carolina, passed away peacefully at her home on August 2, 2025, after a brief illness. She was...
lake land college.3

Lake Land College Board Approves 3% Pay Raises, New Salary Structure for Staff

Many full-time and part-time employees at Lake Land College will see a 3% salary increase starting July 1, following a vote by the Board of Trustees to approve base salary...
lake land college.1

Lake Land College Backs 12-Year Extension for Mattoon’s Midtown TIF District

The Lake Land College Board of Trustees has thrown its support behind a 12-year extension for the City of Mattoon's Midtown Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Redevelopment Project Area, a move...
Lake Land Effingham Tech Center.1

Lake Land College Celebrates Grand Opening of New Effingham Technology Center

Lake Land College officially opened the doors to its new Effingham Technology Center on Wednesday evening, welcoming hundreds of community members to explore the 100,000-square-foot facility that represents a major...
Eastern_Illinois_Panthers_logo.svg

EIU Leads OVC With 48 Academic Medal Of Honor Winners

On Friday it was announced that 349 Ohio Valley Conference student-athletes have earned the OVC Academic Medal of Honor for the 2024-25 academic year. It marks the second-highest total in...
Clark County Logo

Suncode Energy Pitches Six-Part Community Solar Project Near Martinsville

Suncode Energy outlined plans for its Summit Project at a public hearing on June 10, presenting a "community solar" model that differs from traditional utility-scale developments. The project, located on...
Clark County Logo

Meeting Briefs: Clark County Public Hearing for June 10, 2025

County Cites New Ordinance for Solar Hearing: Chairman Rex Goble clarified that the public hearing was required under the county’s new solar siting ordinance. This ordinance was not in place for...
Clark County Logo

Clark County Residents Challenge Solar Developers on Farmland, Finances, and Future

A public hearing on two proposed solar energy projects became a forum for resident anxieties on Tuesday, June 10, as citizens pressed developers about the long-term impact on prime farmland,...
Rich Schelsky of Rockville, IN, smiles after sinking the winning putt in a playoff to capture his first Casey Open title on Sunday. Schelsky shot a 68.

Schelsky Wins 75th Casey Open in Playoff Thriller

Rich Schelsky of Rockville, IN, smiles after sinking the winning putt in a playoff to capture his first Casey Open title on Sunday. Schelsky shot a...
Meeting Briefs

Casey-Westfield Meeting Summary: Board Saves on Insurance, Approves Major Purchases

The Casey-Westfield CUSD C-4 Board of Education made several significant financial decisions at its June 23, 2025, meeting, including approving a new insurance package that will save over $52,000 and...