Two national polls show the Democratic Party’s favorability at record lows. An NBC News poll found 27% of registered voters view the party positively, the lowest in NBC polling since 1990, and a CNN poll put the figure at 29%, the lowest in CNN’s records. The results come after the party lost the White House and Senate in 2024.
Two new national polls released Sunday show the Democratic Party’s popularity has fallen to its lowest point in decades. The drop comes after the party’s losses in the 2024 election, when it lost control of the White House and the Senate.
An NBC News poll found that only 27% of registered voters view the Democratic Party positively, the lowest in NBC’s polling history going back to 1990. Just 7% of respondents said they have a “very positive” view of the party.
A separate CNN poll found that 29% of Americans had a favorable opinion of the Democratic Party, the lowest in CNN’s records. Among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, 63% still said they view the party favorably.
The same NBC poll put President Donald Trump’s approval rating at 47%, tying the highest mark of his presidency in NBC polling.
Internal frustration grows within the party
The poll results come amid rising tension among Democrats over how to respond to the Trump administration and Republican-led policies, which came to a head during the fight to prevent a government shutdown the week before.
After the House passed a Republican-written bill to keep the government funded, most House Democrats having voted against it, Senate Democrats faced a difficult choice: help advance the bill and avoid a shutdown, or block it and risk a shutdown that would leave many federal workers without pay.
In the end, ten members of the Senate Democratic caucus voted with Republicans to advance the funding bill, allowing it to pass. One of them was Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who faced heavy criticism from many fellow Democrats and progressive activists for his decision.
Debate over party leadership and direction
Some Democrats have questioned whether Schumer should remain the party’s leader in the Senate, while others have called for unity and argued that infighting helps Republicans. Others argued the party needs tougher tactics to oppose the administration.
Democratic voters want stronger pushback
The CNN poll found that 57% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents want party leaders to focus on stopping the Republican agenda, while 42% said they would prefer leaders to work with Republicans to get some of their ideas passed.
In the NBC poll, 65% of Democratic voters said they want the party to stick to its positions even if that means less gets done in Washington, while 32% said they prefer that Democrats make compromises with Trump to get things done.
A divided base
The results point to a split within the party between voters who want a more confrontational stance against Republicans and those who prefer compromise. With overall favorability at historic lows, party leaders face pressure to energize their supporters and rebuild trust with voters who have drifted away.
Looking ahead to 2026
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, Democrats are debating whether stronger opposition or a focus on practical results offers the better path back to power. For now, the polls show voters, including many Democrats, are unhappy with the party’s current direction.
Source: Scripps News
