Democrats Hit Historic Low in Quinnipiac Poll
- Democrats are drowning in poor favorability numbers and a fading brand.
- Republicans aren’t soaring, but Democrats face sharper declines among key groups.
- Party infighting and weak messaging are driving the plunge in public trust.
In what sounds like a broken record, the Democratic Party hit another historic low in a national poll this week. Thirty percent of voters nationwide questioned in a Quinnipiac University survey said they have a favorable opinion of the Democratic Party, with 54% saying they hold an unfavorable opinion. Those are numbers that should scare any strategist in progressive circles.
“This is the lowest favorability rating for the Democratic party since the Quinnipiac University Poll began asking voters this question in 2008,” the survey’s release noted. The Quinnipiac survey was the latest poll this year to flash red alerts for the Democrats. It confirms a longer slide, not a one-off blip.
The party has been in the political wilderness since last year’s elections, losing control of the White House and the Senate and failing to win back the House majority. Even worse for Democrats, Republicans made gains among Black, Hispanic and younger voters, groups Democrats once took for granted. That suggests the message from the left isn’t landing where it used to.
Since President Donald Trump’s return to power in January, Democrats have turned inward, pressuring leaders to escalate attacks instead of offering clear alternatives. An increasingly energized base wants louder rhetoric and sharper opposition to the president’s agenda, and they’re blaming party moderates for not doing enough. That chaos is part of the brand problem dragging favorability down.
“We do have a brand problem,” Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin said in a Fox News Digital interview this summer. “When you hit rock bottom, there’s only one direction to go, and that’s up, and that’s what we’re doing,” Martin added. Nice optimism, but voters want results and consistency more than pep talks.
If there’s a silver lining for Democrats, it’s that the Republican brand image isn’t exactly pristine either. Only 38% of respondents in the Quinnipiac poll said they have a favorable view of the Republican Party, with 51% holding an unfavorable opinion. Still, Republicans have room to capitalize if they keep delivering a clear, upbeat message about solutions and growth.
The poll also shows President Trump’s approval rating at 38% with 54% disapproving of his job performance, and averages put him around 45% approval and 52% disapproval across national surveys. Those numbers are a reminder that both parties face uphill battles persuading the public. For Republicans, the path forward is clearer: focus on competence, opportunity, and keeping momentum with voters who switched sides this cycle.
Leave a Comment