Democrats’ Approval Hits 35-Year Low: WSJ Poll
Democratic Approval Drops to 35-Year Low, Republican Edge Persists
The latest poll indicates that Democrats’ support among registered voters has fallen to its lowest point in over three decades, with a 63% unfavorable rating compared to only 33% favorable, the worst since 1990.
Meanwhile, Republicans hold a slight advantage on major issues. Voters trust the GOP more on inflation, immigration, and handling illegal immigrants, with disparities of about 10 to 17 points. Interestingly, respondents disapprove of Trump’s tariffs by 17 points, yet Republicans still outperform Democrats on this matter.
A significant portion of voters, 51%, believe that recent changes from Trump have led to dysfunction and chaos, whereas 45% feel he has brought positive reforms. Despite the Biden administration’s struggles, overall approval ratings for Trump stand at 46%, with 52% disapproval. This is an improvement from similar metrics during his first term, when approval was around 40%.
The survey also reveals that 46% of respondents would support a Democrat in a congressional election today, slightly ahead of the 43% favoring a Republican. However, party identification is nearly evenly split, with Republicans holding a 1-point lead over Democrats—a stark contrast to 2017, when Democrats enjoyed a 6-point advantage.
Democrats currently face internal critiques of their messaging and strategic direction. The party out of the White House historically gains midterm support, which positions Democrats for potential gains in 2026. Still, they are considered somewhat weak, struggling to rally their base or present a compelling alternative, as reflected in declining poll numbers.
On policy, Democrats lead Republicans in vaccine and healthcare issues, but overall, the political landscape is tense. The GOP’s narrow edge in party support and the tight control of the House, with only 219 to 212 members, make the upcoming midterms highly uncertain.
The poll sampled 1,500 registered voters between July 16–20, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.