Congressional Democrat approval has plummeted to an all-time low, with just 19 percent of registered voters expressing satisfaction, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll. The poll marks the lowest Democrat approval rating since 2009 and reveals widespread dissatisfaction even among Democratic voters themselves.
Fifty-two percent of Democratic voters disapprove of their own party’s congressional leadership, while only 39 percent approve. The bleak numbers come amid mounting division within the Democratic Party and a vacuum of national leadership heading into the 2028 election cycle.
The party’s struggles extend beyond the polls. A surprise primary win by socialist Zohran Mamdani in New York City has rattled the establishment, with leading Democrats like Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries refusing to endorse him. Meanwhile, donors are fleeing. A Politico report revealed that Republicans are “racking up more cash” than Democrats ahead of key House races, with multiple GOP incumbents topping $1 million in quarterly fundraising while only one Democrat matched that figure.
Democratic National Committee chairman Ken Martin faces growing criticism, including from top labor ally Randi Weingarten, who recently quit the DNC, saying she feels “out of step” with his leadership.
“If the approval numbers for Republicans are bad … then the approval numbers for Democrats can be characterized as flat out terrible,” Quinnipiac analyst Tim Malloy concluded.
