Nearly 50 percent of American voters prefer a Democratic-controlled Congress, according to a new national poll.

Democrats hold a 4-point lead among American voters when asked which party they prefer control Congress come November, according to a new national NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.

Among registered American voters, 47 percent prefer a Democrat-controlled Congress, compared to 43 percent who want Republicans to maintain their hold on Congress.

In June, the parties were tied at 46 percent each, and Democrats had another 4-point edge in May.

A separate Fox News poll conducted at the end of June found that 46 percent preferred Democrats in control, while 41 percent favored Republicans maintaining theirs.

Thirty-four Senate seats and all 435 House seats will be contested in the elections in November.

The poll was conducted from July 31-Aug. 3, surveying 800 registered voters with an overall margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.