Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Top Stories

Poll: Democrats In Crisis Amid Shifting Voter Sentiment

News

Poll: Democrats In Crisis Amid Shifting Voter Sentiment

democrat donkey

Getty Images

“Democrats Get Lowest Rating From Voters in 35 Years” — the Wall Street Journal’s recent headline has sent ripples through the political landscape, highlighting a dramatic erosion in public perception of the Democratic Party.

According to the Journal’s poll, 63% of voters now hold an unfavorable view of the party, marking the lowest approval rating since 1990.


The poll paints a stark picture:

  • Only 33% of voters view Democrats favorably, with just 8% expressing a “very favorable” opinion.
  • Democrats are now viewed less favorably than both President Donald Trump and the Republican Party, despite their own poor ratings.
  • Voters increasingly describe the party as “weak,” “out of touch,” and lacking a clear economic message.

Despite widespread voter concerns over Trump’s and GOP’s economic policies—including inflation, tariffs, and foreign policy—a majority still trust Republicans more than Democrats to address these issues in Congress.

Polling shows disapproval of the administration’s inflation management outweighs approval by 11 points. Yet Republicans hold a 10-point advantage over Democrats as the party voters trust most to tackle inflation.

Democratic pollster John Anzalone bluntly stated, “The Democratic brand is so bad that they don’t have the credibility to be a critic of Trump or the Republican Party”.

The WSJ poll follows the sobering poll from Unite the Country, a Democratic super PAC, revealing a deepening crisis of confidence in the Democratic Party among voters — a trend that has intensified since the 2024 election.

According to the poll, conducted between May and June and obtained by The Hill, voters increasingly view the party as “out of touch,” “woke,” and “weak”.

These descriptors reflect a growing disconnect between Democratic messaging and the concerns of key constituencies, including white men, Hispanic men, and working-class voters — all of whom now rate the party below 35% favorability.

The Democratic Party’s losses in the 2024 presidential, House, and Senate races have left it in a state of strategic disarray. Despite efforts to regroup through focus groups, internal polling, and strategy sessions, the Unite the Country survey suggests the party has yet to recover its footing. Enthusiasm among Democratic voters remains low, and donors have reportedly pulled back support due to a perceived lack of vision.

Democratic strategists like Rodell Mollineau, senior adviser to Unite the Country, argue that the party must “meet voters where they are” — prioritizing economic issues like healthcare, education, and housing over ideological battles. The poll also suggests that the party’s emphasis on defending democracy, while resonant internally, may not be enough to win back swing voters.

Steve Schale, CEO of Unite the Country, expressed frustration over missed opportunities to counter the Trump administration’s agenda, including the rollout of the so-called “big, beautiful bill.” He emphasized the need for a “different kind of vision” that speaks to voters’ material concerns.

With the 2026 midterms looming, Democratic leaders face a pivotal moment. Rebuilding trust with voters — especially working-class and minority communities — will be essential. As DNC Chair Ken Martin put it, “When you hit rock bottom, there’s only one direction to go, and that’s up”.

Whether this marks a temporary dip or a long-term shift in the political tide remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the Democratic Party must recalibrate its message, reconnect with its base, and redefine its role in a rapidly evolving electorate.

While The Wall Street Journal’s polling shows Donald Trump’s favorability rating remaining steady early in his second term, other recent surveys indicate significantly lower approval numbers for the president.

The Wall Street Journal surveyed 1,500 registered voters via landline and cellphone from July 16–20. The poll has a margin of error of ±2.5 percentage points.

Hugo Balta is the executive editor of the Fulcrum, and the publisher of the Latino News Network.

Read More

Ingrassia Exit Highlights Rare GOP Pushback to Trump’s Personnel Picks

President Donald Trump speaks at a White House press briefing on Jan. 30, 2025.

Credit: Jonah Elkowitz/Medill News Service

Ingrassia Exit Highlights Rare GOP Pushback to Trump’s Personnel Picks

WASHINGTON — Paul Ingrassia withdrew his nomination to lead the Office of Special Counsel on Tuesday night after facing Republican pushback over past controversial statements.

While Ingrassia joins a growing list of President Donald Trump’s nominees who have withdrawn from consideration, many who have aired controversial beliefs or lack requisite qualifications have still been appointed or are still in the nomination process.

Keep ReadingShow less
In Laredo, families grapple with air pollution as efforts to reduce toxic emissions stall

Nidia Nevares walks with her son, Juan Jose "JJ" Nevares, at Father Charles M. McNaboe Park on Sept. 20, 2025. The park is near both their home and the Midwest Sterilization Co. plant, which uses a known carcinogen. Photo by Sean Jimenez/South Texas Project

Photo by Sean Jimenez/South Texas Project

In Laredo, families grapple with air pollution as efforts to reduce toxic emissions stall

LAREDO, Texas – The Nevares family home is a lively space, with kittens milling about and happiness in the air. It’s a feeling the family had to fight for, following a devastating leukemia diagnosis for their youngest son seven years ago.

Not far from them lives Xavier Ortiz, a hardworking man who wants to provide for his family but is hindered by an aggressive cancer.

Keep ReadingShow less
A doctor and patient holding hands.

Trust in America’s doctors has hit historic lows. This story explores how decades of missed opportunities, rising costs, and systemic inertia eroded the doctor-patient bond — and what it will take to restore confidence in modern medicine.

Getty Images, thianchai sitthikongsak

The Collapse of Patient Trust: How U.S. Healthcare Lost Its Way

Just as the political health of a nation requires trust in elected officials, the physical and mental health of Americans depends on the trust embedded in the doctor-patient relationship.

For most of the past century, that bond was ironclad. Now, that relationship is fraying.

Keep ReadingShow less
A child looking at a smartphone.

With autism rates doubling every decade, scientists are reexamining environmental and behavioral factors. Could the explosion of social media use since the 1990s be influencing neurodevelopment? A closer look at the data, the risks, and what research must uncover next.

Getty Images, Arindam Ghosh

The Increase in Autism and Social Media – Coincidence or Causal?

Autism has been in the headlines recently because of controversy over Robert F. Kennedy, Jr's statements. But forgetting about Kennedy, autism is headline-worthy because of the huge increase in its incidence over the past two decades and its potential impact on not just the individual children but the health and strength of our country.

In the 1990s, a new definition of autism—ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder)—was universally adopted. Initially, the prevalence rate was pretty stable. In the year 2,000, with this broader definition and better diagnosis, the CDC estimated that one in 150 eight-year-olds in the U.S. had an autism spectrum disorder. (The reports always study eight-year-olds, so this data was for children born in 1992.)

Keep ReadingShow less