Majority Say Country On Wrong Track; Whitmer Approval at 50%, Trump Iran Handling Underwater

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 03/25/2026) A new statewide poll shows a clear majority of voters still believe the country is on the wrong track, while partisan splits continue to harden across nearly every major issue, from the direction of the state to job approval ratings for top political figures.

The Marketing Resource Group's (MRG) “Michigan Poll,” conducted March 16–18, found that 58% of voters say the country is headed in the wrong direction, compared to 33% who believe it’s on the right track.

That divide is sharply partisan. While 63% of Republicans say the country is on the right track, 82% of Democrats say the opposite. Women and lower-income voters are also more likely to view the country as off-course.

This is largely unchanged from last September, when roughly 58% said the country was on the wrong track and about 29% said it was headed in the right direction.

At the state level, the mood is only slightly less bleak. About 46% of voters say Michigan is on the wrong track, compared to 41% who believe it's headed in the right direction, with more voters forming firm opinions than in previous polls.

This is a slight shift from last year, when 42.6% said the state was on the wrong track and 38.3% said it was headed in the right direction.

The same polarization is apparent in job approval ratings.

President Donald Trump holds a 39% approval rating, with 52% disapproving — down from a 42% approval rating and a 51% disapproval rating in September.

Within that approval rating, the divide is stark as 82% of Republicans approve of his performance, while 85% of Democrats disapprove.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, meanwhile, maintains a stronger overall position but is seeing her numbers tighten. Half of voters approve of her job performance, while 36% disapprove. She is also down from a 52% approval and 37% disapproval in September.

Infrastructure ranked as the top issue facing the state, with 25% of voters listing it as a priority, followed by job wages (16%), health care (15%) and cost of living (14%).

Trump's Handling Of Iran Conflict Draws Sharp Disapproval

Michigan voters also expressed strong dissatisfaction with how Trump is handling the Iran war, according to the same MRG poll.

Nearly half of respondents (49%) disapprove of Trump's handling of the conflict, including 39% who said they strongly disapprove. By comparison, 37% said they approve of his approach.

The partisan divide mirrors his overall job approval ratings. About 74% of Republicans approve of his handling of the conflict, while 81% of Democrats disapprove. Independent voters also lean negative, with 57% disapproving and 55% of women disapproving.

MRG owner Jenell Leonard said that international conflicts play a significant role in upcoming elections.

“Rising gas prices tied to this war are hitting independent voters the hardest, and that’s a warning sign for Republicans heading into November," Leonard said. "As long as gas prices stay near $4 a gallon, the headwinds will only grow. Resolving this conflict sooner rather than later is critical in this midterm.”