NBC Poll: ICE More Popular Than Democrats Ahead of 2026 Midterms

Democrats' attacks on ICE backfire as agency's favorability tops party's in new survey.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A new NBC News poll shows that despite Democrats' efforts to demonize Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the agency is more popular with voters than the Democratic Party itself heading into the 2026 midterm elections. The poll also found that former President Donald Trump has a higher net favorability rating than leading 2028 Democratic contenders Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsom.

Why it matters

This poll result is a major blow to Democrats' strategy of running against ICE and Trump-era immigration enforcement in the 2026 midterms. It suggests their attacks on the agency have backfired, with voters viewing ICE more favorably than the Democratic Party. This could undermine a key part of the Democrats' midterm messaging and campaign platform.

The details

The NBC News poll found that ICE has a net favorability rating of -18, which is still higher than the Democratic Party's rating of -22. This comes despite the left's efforts to portray ICE as a "villainous" agency, including highlighting high-profile incidents involving ICE agents. The poll also showed that former President Trump has a net favorability of -12, better than Harris (-17) and Newsom (-18), the leading 2028 Democratic contenders.

  • The NBC News poll was released on March 9, 2026.
  • The 2026 midterm elections are scheduled for November.

The players

Donald Trump

Former President of the United States.

Kamala Harris

Vice President of the United States and a leading contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination.

Gavin Newsom

Governor of California and a leading contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination.

Marco Rubio

U.S. Senator from Florida.

JD Vance

U.S. Senator from Ohio.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Democrats wanted to run in 2026 on outrage over ICE. Instead, they're going into the midterms as the party Americans like less than the agency they were told to hate.”

— Matt Margolis, Author (pjmedia.com)

What’s next

The results of this poll are likely to shape the Democratic Party's strategy and messaging heading into the 2026 midterm elections, as they will need to rethink their approach to immigration enforcement issues.

The takeaway

This poll result is a major setback for Democrats, who had hoped to capitalize on public outrage over ICE and Trump-era immigration policies in the 2026 midterms. Instead, it appears voters view the Democratic Party itself more unfavorably than the agency they sought to demonize, underscoring the party's challenges in connecting with the electorate on key issues.