In a recent poll, only 19% of voters have expressed approval for Congressional Democrats, with 72% feeling they haven’t been doing their jobs effectively. This marks the lowest approval rating recorded by Quinnipiac University since they began their surveys on this topic 16 years ago.
Since the last election in November, where Republicans secured the presidency and maintained control of the Senate, Democrats have struggled politically. The GOP has made gains among traditional Democratic bases, including Black, Hispanic, and younger voters.
The Democratic base has become increasingly vocal in urging party leaders to oppose President Trump’s controversial agenda more assertively. There’s a growing frustration not just towards Republicans, but also towards fellow Democrats, who many feel aren’t adequately challenging Trump’s policies.
As a result, this discontent has reflected poorly on the Democrats, driving their approval ratings to historic lows in several surveys this year. According to the latest Quinnipiac Poll conducted from July 10 to 14, only 39% of Democrats approve of how their Congressional representatives are performing, while 52% disapprove and 9% remain neutral. “The numbers for Democrats’ approval can only be described as terrible,” commented a voting analyst from the institution.
On the Republican side, approval ratings are not as grim but still leave much to be desired. About a third of voters expressed satisfaction with Congressional Republicans’ performance, while 62% disapproved. Interestingly, 77% of Republicans themselves feel positively about how their lawmakers are handling their responsibilities.
When it comes to President Trump’s performance, 40% of respondents approve, but 54% disapprove. His approval ratings have fluctuated, indicating mixed sentiments among the electorate as he begins his second term.
With midterm elections on the horizon, both presidential and Congressional approval ratings will be critical to monitor. Republicans will be facing challenges in maintaining their slim majorities in both the House and Senate, particularly in a politically charged environment.
