American Discontent with Congressional Leadership

Recent polling highlights a significant disapproval among Americans regarding their jobs, as echoed in a Marist/NPR/PBS News survey released Tuesday. Interestingly, it seems Congress, particularly Congressional Democrats, is feeling the brunt of this discontent.

The poll reveals that only 27% of registered voters approve of how Congressional Democrats are performing, a noticeable drop from 39% in February 2024. In stark contrast, a majority of 58% expressed their disapproval, while 15% remained undecided.

Interestingly, opinions among Democrats themselves appear to be almost evenly split on their leadership’s performance, with 44% in favor and 43% against. This could indicate, well, a bit of inner turmoil within the party (you know, like when you can’t decide on a restaurant).

On the other side, 36% of those surveyed—a considerable 73% of Republicans—approved of Congressional Republicans, up from 26% in 2024. However, 52% disapproved of Republican leadership, with 12% unsure of their stance.

These findings from the Marist poll come on the heels of troubling trends for the Democratic National Committee (DNC), which has reported a drop in donations and support as the 2026 midterm elections loom closer. It’s a challenging time for Democrats, particularly as they aim to regain control of the House of Representatives.

The survey, which included 1,381 adults, was conducted between June 23 and June 25. Results are statistically significant, with a margin of error of about 2.9 percentage points for all adults and 3.1 percentage points for registered voters. The demographics of respondents included 35% Democrats, 34% Republicans, and 29% independents.