Democrats Face Tough Times One Year After Biden’s Surprising Exit
It’s been a year since Joe Biden unexpectedly withdrew from the 2024 presidential race, a move that sent shockwaves through the political landscape. His departure, which was quite the surprise, left Democrats reeling. Even now, feelings of disappointment linger within the party.
Recent polling from CNN, conducted between July 10 and 13, shows that only 28% of Americans view the Democratic Party positively. This figure marks the lowest approval rate for Democrats recorded in over three decades of CNN polling.
A Year Later: Biden’s Stunning Exit
The implications of Biden’s decision remain profound. Just 19% of those surveyed by Quinnipiac University expressed approval of Congressional Democrats, while a staggering 72% disapproved. This lowest-ever rating dates back to when Quinnipiac first began measuring Congressional approval 16 years ago.
Since the previous November elections, Democrats have struggled tremendously. Not only did they lose their power, but Republicans also managed to gain support from demographic groups like Black, Hispanic, and younger voters who have traditionally backed the Democrats.
Many within the party feel that their leaders are not vocal enough against former President Trump and his controversial agenda, which only adds to the frustration. This sentiment appears to have driven a historic decline in favorable ratings for the Democratic Party this year.
The recent Quinnipiac poll also highlighted that just 39% of Democrats are satisfied with how their congressional representatives are doing their jobs, with 52% disapproving. Analyst Tim Malloy described these approval numbers as “awful.”
In contrast, Republicans don’t have much to celebrate either. Only about one-third of respondents approved of the way Congressional Republicans are handling their tasks, although a significant 77% of Republicans themselves expressed satisfaction with their party’s performance.
The ongoing scrutiny isn’t only directed at Democrats. Trump’s approval ratings also remain lackluster; recent surveys indicate that he’s had negative support in most of the polls conducted this month. As he embarks on another round of campaigning for the White House, his approval numbers hover around the lower end of the scale.
Interestingly, some polls do suggest a silver lining for the Democrats. A significant 72% of party-leaning Democrats and independents said they plan to vote in the upcoming midterms, which is notably higher than the willingness reported by Republicans.
