Voter satisfaction with political leadership has tumbled significantly across Missouri, as public approval numbers for both state and national officials experienced broad declines over the past several months. According to the latest statewide survey released by Saint Louis University and YouGov, elected leaders are facing mounting headwinds among the electorate alongside shifting views on local infrastructure and upcoming ballot propositions.
The comprehensive survey gathered feedback from 900 likely Missouri voters between August 13 and August 24, 2026. Conducted semiannually since its inception in 2020, the research initiative carries a margin of error of 4.09 percentage points. The latest findings offer an extensive snapshot of voter sentiment regarding state governance, economic conditions, public education, data center development, vaccine rules, and high-profile statewide ballot initiatives.
At the federal level, President Donald Trump's popularity in the state reached a historic low mark within the survey's tracking history. For the first time since the SLU-YouGov poll began monitoring voter sentiment six years ago, Trump's approval rating fell below the 50% threshold. The August results showed that 48% of surveyed likely voters approve of the president's job performance, while 52% express disapproval.
The drop continues a downward trend for the president among Missouri voters, having fallen from a 56% approval rating recorded in 2025 down to 53% in February 2026 before dipping into negative territory. Steve Rogers, the poll director and a political science professor at Saint Louis University, noted that the president's standing is now underwater for the first time in the polling project's existence.
Federal lawmakers representing Missouri in Washington, D.C., have also seen their standing weaken among constituents. U.S. Senator Josh Hawley saw his approval rating decline to 47%, marking his lowest evaluation in the survey since 2023. U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt experienced a parallel decrease, sliding to 44% approval, with his only lower rating occurring in August 2023.
Broader federal institutions are experiencing similar downward trajectories among Missourians. Public approval for the United States Congress dropped to 25% in August 2026, continuing a steady decline despite Republican majorities presiding over both legislative chambers. Congressional approval had previously climbed to a peak of 41% in February 2025 before receding to 33% in February 2026. Concurrently, the United States Supreme Court's rating diminished to 45% in August, dropping from the 51% approval registered in February 2025.
State government leaders in Jefferson City have not been insulated from this wave of voter dissatisfaction. Governor Mike Kehoe suffered a steep decline over the six-month span between surveys, plunging 10 percentage points from a 50% approval rating in February 2026 to 40% in August.
The Missouri State Legislature experienced a comparable downturn in public estimation. Approval for the state’s legislative body fell from 51% in February 2026 down to 42% in the August poll, mirroring the broader pattern of voter frustration observed toward both state and national institutions.
This shifting political climate appears to be impacting statewide electoral contests as well. In the race for Missouri State Auditor, polling numbers between the candidates landed within the survey's 4.09% margin of error. Such a competitive outlook represents an unusual development in a state that has leaned heavily toward Republican candidates in recent general election cycles.
Rogers explained that incumbent State Auditor Fitzpatrick faces unique challenges tied to broader political dynamics, as he must navigate the traditional midterm slump associated with the presidential administration. While prevailing anti-Biden voter sentiment helped lift Republican candidates like Fitzpatrick when he won election in 2022, Rogers noted that the environment in 2026 features widespread voter frustration directed at Republicans, creating significant electoral headwinds.
Beyond candidate popularity and institutional approval, the survey revealed substantial public resistance to the development of data centers. Facilities designed to house large-scale computer servers for digital storage and transmission have emerged as a contentious topic across the state, particularly when proposals are situated close to home.
Local opposition to these facilities surged over the summer, with 68% of respondents stating they oppose having a data center located in their immediate community—a sharp rise of approximately 17 percentage points from the 51% opposition recorded in February. The poll examined these views by splitting 449 respondents into different questioning sequences to measure attitudes toward local installations versus statewide development.
Voters also indicated divided perspectives on critical measures scheduled to appear on the November 3 ballot. Amendment 3, which aims to overturn the 2024 voter decision that ended Missouri’s ban on abortion, saw its support erode from 50% in February to 43% in August. With 44% of respondents actively opposing the amendment in the latest survey, the issue sits in a statistical dead heat within the survey's margin of error.
Meanwhile, Amendment 6, a proposal to constrain lawmakers from easily modifying voter-approved initiative petitions and constitutional changes, drew 48% support. The amendment would mandate an 80% supermajority in the legislature as well as a statewide ratifying vote for any legislative alterations. While Rogers highlighted this as strong baseline support, roughly one-third of the electorate remains undecided.
Finally, the poll indicated that other ballot proposals, including Proposition A, have sparked notable uncertainty among the public. Rogers pointed out that Proposition A generated the highest level of voter confusion among the ballot questions, rounding out a complex and volatile political landscape as Missouri voters prepare for the upcoming November election.
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