GOP Keeps Lead For House Control, Democrats' Momentum Stalls Amid Economy Worries — CBS News Battleground Tracker Poll

By Anthony Salvanto, Kabir Khanna, Jennifer De Pinto and Fred Backus, CBS Dallas/Fort Worth

October 16, 2022

For two months the Democrats chipped away at the Republicans' lead in the battle for House control, helped by motivated abortion-rights voters and what turned out to be fleeting glimmers of optimism about the economy. But that momentum has stalled, at least for now, and the Republicans' House lead has stabilized today at 224 seats to the Democrats' 211. The Republicans' lead had shrunk in the two previous model runs of September and August.

What's behind this? Today's views of the economy have gotten worse amid continuing inflation, a volatile stock market and — in a stark reversal from August — people are reporting gas prices are rising in their neighborhoods. And voters are feeling this personally: more now say their own financial situation is bad, and there's more concern about saving and paying for things, compared to last month.

The Republicans still win voters who prioritize the economy but haven't been able to grow their share of them. Meanwhile the Democrats have not been able to grow the number of people prioritizing abortion — an issue that favors them.

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