Full Breakdown
Declining Approval Ratings for Democrats and Trump Ahead of Midterm Elections
12/19/2025, 11:53:25 PM
Current Approval Ratings for Democrats
Recent polling data reveals a significant decline in the approval ratings of the Democratic Party, with only 18% of voters approving of the way Democrats in Congress are handling their jobs, while 73% disapprove. This marks the lowest job approval rating for congressional Democrats since Quinnipiac University began tracking this metric 16 years ago. The poll, conducted from December 11-15, surveyed 1,035 registered voters and has a margin of error of ±3.9 percentage points. Notably, only 43% of Democrats expressed approval of their party's congressional representatives, indicating discontent even within their base.
Implications for the Midterm Elections
As the Democratic Party prepares for the upcoming midterm elections in November 2026, maintaining a strong approval rating is crucial. The party currently holds a slim minority in Congress, with Republicans controlling 219 seats in the House and 53 in the Senate. Historically, the party not in the White House tends to perform better in midterms, as seen in 2018 when Democrats gained 41 seats. Despite the current low approval ratings, 47% of voters indicated they would prefer Democrats to control the House, compared to 43% favoring Republicans.
Criticism and Opposition
Political analysts have expressed concern regarding the Democratic Party's ability to recover from its recent electoral setbacks. Mark Shanahan, a political science professor at the University of Surrey, noted that the Democrats have struggled to regain voter trust and clarity in policy direction since losing significant ground in the previous elections. Conservative commentator Benny Johnson remarked on social media that the polling data presents a dire outlook for Democrats, suggesting that even their own supporters are dissatisfied.
Approval Ratings for President Trump
In parallel, President Donald Trump's approval rating has also seen a decline, currently sitting at 39% according to a recent Reuters/Ipsos survey. This drop is attributed to growing discontent regarding his handling of the economy, with only 33% approving of his economic management. Trump's disapproval rating has risen to 59%, reflecting a broader trend of dissatisfaction among voters. Notably, his approval among Republicans has decreased from 82% in July to 75% in November.
Conflicting Reports and Future Outlook
While both parties face challenges, the Democratic Party's approval ratings are particularly concerning as they head into the midterms. Polling indicates that enthusiasm among Democratic voters is higher than that of Republicans, with 44% of Democrats expressing strong enthusiasm for voting compared to 26% of Republicans. However, the overall sentiment suggests a competitive landscape where both parties are grappling with low approval ratings and voter discontent.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Democrats in the minds of the American public are lower than the Dead Sea right.” — Harry Enten, CNN Chief Data Analyst
- “A family squabble spills over into the holidays. Democratic voters want their party to hold the reins of the House but are not the least bit happy about what they are doing at the moment,” — Tim Malloy, Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst
- “said: "This is all pointing to the 2026 midterms as being the battle of two unpopular parties—an echo of the Trump v.” — Mark Shanahan, Political Science Professor
As both parties navigate these challenging approval ratings, the upcoming midterm elections will serve as a critical test of their respective strategies and voter engagement efforts.
