Democratic Party Panics as Approval Ratings Hit Historic Low

Democratic Party approval ratings have cratered to historic lows of 27-29%, driven by Chuck Schumer’s controversial decision to allow a Republican budget bill to pass without a fight.

Quick Takes

Democratic Party favorability has hit record lows in multiple polls, with only 27% approval in NBC News polling and 29% in CNN polling.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer faces intense backlash from progressives after refusing to filibuster a Republican budget bill.
Only 63% of Democrats view their party favorably, down from 81% four years ago.
A petition demanding Schumer’s resignation has gathered over 21,000 signatures.
President Trump’s approval rating has reached an all-time high of 47% amid Democratic disarray.

Democrats Plunge to Unprecedented Unpopularity

Recent polling shows the Democratic Party’s popularity has collapsed to historic lows. According to NBC News, Democratic favorability has dropped to a mere 27%, the lowest since the network began polling in 1990. CNN’s survey reports slightly better but still dismal numbers, with only 29% favorability, marking the party’s worst performance since 1992. The numbers reflect a broader crisis of confidence in Democratic leadership, with 54% of surveyed adults expressing an unfavorable opinion of the party. The collapse is particularly notable when compared to the Republican Party, which maintained its 36% favorability rating from January, despite a slight increase in unfavorability from 44% to 48%.

The precipitous decline comes at a pivotal moment for Democrats as they navigate a political landscape dominated by a resurgent Republican Party under President Trump, whose approval rating has climbed to an all-time high of 47%. The stark contrast between the parties’ trajectories reflects growing voter dissatisfaction with Democratic governance and strategy in the face of Republican advances. Particularly troubling for Democratic leadership is the erosion of support within their base, with a CNN survey revealing that only 63% of Democrats now have a favorable view of their party, down dramatically from 81% just four years ago.

Schumer Decision Sparks Internal Revolt

At the center of the Democratic Party’s turmoil is Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s controversial decision not to filibuster a Republican budget bill, effectively allowing it to pass without significant resistance. This move has ignited fury among progressives and rank-and-file Democrats who expected their leadership to stand firm against Republican policy priorities. The backlash has been swift and severe, with calls for Schumer’s resignation gaining momentum across progressive circles. A Change.org petition demanding that Democrats withhold donations until Schumer steps down has already gathered over 21,000 signatures, signaling widespread dissatisfaction within the party’s activist base.

Shifting Priorities Among Democratic Voters

The internal strife reflects a significant shift in Democratic voters’ priorities and expectations of their party. Current polling shows that 57% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents now want their party to focus on stopping the Republican agenda rather than pursuing bipartisan cooperation. This marks a dramatic reversal from September 2017, when 74% of Democrats preferred cooperation with Republicans and only 23% wanted to obstruct the GOP agenda. Additionally, 52% of surveyed Democrats believe the party’s leadership is taking it in the wrong direction, while just 48% approve of the current course.

This shift in voter sentiment presents a significant challenge for Democratic leadership attempting to navigate the political realities of divided government. As the party grapples with these internal divisions and plummeting approval ratings, President Trump and Republicans appear increasingly confident. The NBC News poll indicating that 44% of registered voters believe the U.S. is heading in the right direction – the highest percentage since early 2004 – suggests that Republican messaging is resonating with voters in ways that Democratic arguments are not. With Trump’s job approval reaching all-time highs, Democrats face an uphill battle to regain public trust before the next election cycle.