Poll: Dems lead GOP by 14 points on generic House ballot

Democrats hold a 14-point lead over Republicans on the generic House ballot, according to a new poll released by Quinnipiac University on Wednesday. 

The survey found that 52 percent of American voters favor a Democratic candidate in the upcoming midterm elections, while 38 percent back a Republican. 

{mosads}The 14-point advantage marks a solid increase for Democrats. In an identical survey in mid-August, the party held a 9-point lead over Republicans.

Democrats have a sizable lead over Republicans when it comes to independent voters. Fifty percent of respondents who identify themselves as an independent say they’d vote for a Democratic candidate. Thirty-five percent intend to vote for a Republican. 

The poll comes roughly eight weeks before the midterms, as Democrats try to seize on opposition to President Trump to retake the House.

The party needs to gain at least 24 House seats to earn a majority in the lower chamber. 

The Quinnipiac poll of 1,038 adults was conducted between Sept. 6 and Sept. 9. It has a margin of error of 3.7 percentage points. 

Democrats hold a roughly 8-point lead over Republicans in a RealClearPolitics average of generic congressional voting surveys.