Poll Reveals High Unfavorability Ratings for Democrats Amidst GOP Surge
Americans may not have a favorable view of the GOP, but they particularly do not favor the Democratic Party, according to a new Quinnipiac University survey.
The survey, released on Wednesday, indicates that the Democratic Party holds a 57% unfavorable rating among voters, with only 31% expressing a favorable opinion. In contrast, the Republican Party has a 43% favorability rating and a 45% unfavorability rating.
This unfavorable rating for the Democrats is reported to be the highest since Quinnipiac began asking these questions in November 2008. Conversely, the favorability of the GOP has reached its peak during the same timeframe.
The poor ratings for the Democrats come as the party assesses its strategy following the 2024 election cycle, where all 50 states leaned towards the right.
Internally, Democrats are struggling to refine their messaging. Former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris have been less visible since Trump's re-emergence.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has advised his colleagues to refrain from distractions from Trump's various and often controversial statements, emphasizing a focus on cost of living and essential issues that impact households.
Trump's recent political actions are reportedly enjoying a positive response, with his deployment of troops to the US-Mexico border receiving 60% approval in response to the Quinnipiac poll.
However, voters showed strong support for granting citizenship to children born in the US at a rate of 61% to 30%, despite the Trump administration's attempts to deny this right for children of undocumented immigrants.
Furthermore, a majority expressed disapproval of Trump's broad pardon for approximately 1,500 defendants from the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots (57% to 37%), although a significant 74% of Republicans supported it.
Voters also disagreed with Biden's decision to issue preemptive pardons for five family members, with a two-to-one margin of 62% to 31% being opposed.
Opinions were also negative concerning Trump's proposal to annex Greenland, with 55% disapproving. Views on re-acquiring the Panama Canal Zone were more divided, showing 45% in disapproval and 45% in approval.
On tariffs, 48% of voters believe that imposing levies on imports would negatively affect the US economy, while 42% feel they would have a net positive effect.
As Trump prepares for his second term, he has a net positive approval rating of 46% approve and 43% disapprove, contrasting with a negative rating of 36% approve to 44% disapprove when he first assumed office in January 2017.
The poll surveyed 1,019 registered voters nationally from January 23-27 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1% percentage points.
