Elected officials across both state and federal government are experiencing a notable decline in public support across Missouri, according to the latest statewide survey. The comprehensive poll reveals growing voter dissatisfaction that touches the presidency, members of Congress, the judiciary, and top state officeholders, alongside mounting local skepticism over infrastructure projects and key ballot measures.
Conducted jointly by Saint Louis University and YouGov, the research surveyed 900 likely Missouri voters between August 13 and August 24. Designed to measure public sentiment twice a year since its inception in 2020, the survey maintains a margin of error of 4.09 percentage points. The latest findings capture a broad snapshot of how Missourians view political figures, economic conditions, education, data center development, and vaccine requirements.
At the federal level, President Donald Trump saw his approval rating in the state fall below the majority threshold for the very first time in the survey’s history. Only 48 percent of respondents reported approving of the president’s performance, compared to 52 percent who expressed disapproval. This marks a steady retreat from earlier marks, dropping from 53 percent approval in February 2026 and 56 percent recorded the previous year.
Steve Rogers, the poll director and a political scientist at Saint Louis University, highlighted the historic nature of this shift among Missouri’s electorate. Rogers noted that while the polling series only tracks back to 2020 and does not encompass Trump’s entire initial term in office, the current results place the president’s standing underwater for the first time on record in the survey.
Missouri’s federal lawmakers in the upper chamber of Congress also recorded diminished popularity among constituents. U.S. Senator Josh Hawley saw his approval rating slip to 47 percent, representing his lowest rating in the poll since 2023. Fellow U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt registered at 44 percent approval, marking his second-lowest standing since August 2023.
Public confidence in the United States Congress as an institution has continued its downward spiral throughout 2026. After reaching an all-time high of 41 percent approval in February 2025, legislative approval in Washington dropped to 33 percent in February 2026 and fell further to 25 percent in August 2026. This slide occurred despite Republicans maintaining majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The judicial branch has mirrored this trend of erosion in public confidence over the past 18 months. The United States Supreme Court recorded a consistent drop in voter approval within the state, falling from 51 percent in February 2025 down to 45 percent in the August 2026 survey.
The wave of voter discontent extended directly into Missouri’s state government in Jefferson City. Governor Mike Kehoe experienced a steep decline in constituent support over a six-month span, plummeting ten percentage points from a 50 percent approval rating in February 2026 down to 40 percent in August 2026.
Legislative leaders in the state capitol faced a comparable downturn in their evaluation by voters. The Missouri State Legislature saw its overall approval rating drop from 51 percent in February 2026 to 42 percent in August 2026, indicating broader dissatisfaction with the direction of state governance.
The shifting political landscape has also tightened statewide electoral contests, including the race for State Auditor of Missouri, which now stands within the survey's margin of error. Such a narrow margin is an uncommon occurrence in Missouri’s predominantly conservative political environment, signaling potential electoral turbulence.
Rogers explained that Republican State Auditor Fitzpatrick faces political headwinds linked directly to the national climate and the presidential midterm cycle. While voter dissatisfaction with President Joe Biden helped lift Republican candidates like Fitzpatrick in 2022, Rogers pointed out that in 2026, widespread voter frustration with Republicans has created a midterm slump and significant political obstacles for incumbents.
Beyond political figures, the poll highlighted surging public opposition to technological infrastructure, particularly data centers that house computer servers for storing and transmitting data. Resistance to these facilities has intensified rapidly, especially regarding proposals near residential neighborhoods.
Opposition to local data centers surged by roughly 17 percentage points, with 68 percent of Missouri voters now voicing opposition to placing such facilities within their immediate community, up from 51 percent in February. The poll examined this issue through split questioning of 449 respondents each, alternating whether voters were asked first about local community impacts or broader statewide placement.
Voters also demonstrated divided perspectives regarding upcoming ballot measures scheduled for November 3. Support for Amendment 3, which seeks to overturn the state’s 2024 vote that repealed Missouri’s abortion ban, declined from 50 percent approval in February to 43 percent in August, while 44 percent opposed it, placing the contest strictly within the margin of error.
Meanwhile, Amendment 6, which aims to curb the state legislature’s authority to amend or repeal voter-approved statutory and constitutional ballot initiatives by requiring an 80 percent legislative vote alongside statewide voter ratification, drew 48 percent support. Rogers noted strong overall support for the measure, though approximately one-third of the electorate remains undecided, while Proposition A appeared to generate the highest degree of voter uncertainty on the upcoming ballot.
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