Quinnipiac Poll Shows Democrats at Historic Low in Key Favorability Measure
New national poll puts Democrats at a record-low favorable rating while Republicans also struggle; Trump’s approval remains underwater as party brands face headwinds ahead of 2026.
A Quinnipiac University national poll released this week shows Democrats with 30% favorable and 54% unfavorable, the lowest favorable rating for the party since the poll began asking the question in 2008. The same survey found 38% of respondents have a favorable view of the Republican Party, while 51% viewed it unfavorably. President Donald Trump’s approval rating stood at 38%, with 54% disapproving of his handling of the presidency.
Democrats have endured a difficult stretch since last year's elections, losing the White House and the Senate and failing to win back the House majority. Republicans also made gains among Black, Hispanic and younger voters, shifting traditional bases of support away from the party.
Since President Trump’s return to power in January, an energized base within the Democratic Party has pressed leaders to take a stronger stance against his second-term agenda. The mood inside some party circles reflects frustration with what supporters view as insufficient opposition to the administration’s priorities, even as the White House and congressional leadership search for unity on key votes.
Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin acknowledged a branding issue, telling Fox News Digital: "We do have a brand problem. When you hit rock bottom, there’s only one direction to go, and that’s up, and that’s what we’re doing." The comment underscores party officials’ view that rebuilding credibility with voters will require a sharper, more forceful stance on national issues.
Across the political spectrum, the poll shows the Republican brand isn’t strong either. Only 38% of respondents said they have a favorable view of the Republican Party, with 51% holding an unfavorable opinion.
Trump’s numbers remain underwater nationwide. The Quinnipiac poll found 38% approved of the president’s performance, while 54% disapproved. An average of Trump’s approval ratings in recent national surveys typically sits in negative territory, around mid-40s in approval and low- to mid-50s in disapproval, reflecting a continuing partisan divide as the 2026 cycle looms.
The survey’s publication comes as the Democratic National Committee prepares for its summer meeting in Minneapolis, where party leaders are jockeying to present a more assertive, message-driven alternative to the current administration’s agenda. Ken Martin and other officials have signaled a focus on reconnecting with core constituencies and demonstrating a clear counterpoint to the president’s policies.
These dynamics arrive amid a broader, unsettled political environment in which voters’ views remain highly polarized and volatile. The poll’s results, while indicative of a current mood, are one data point in a crowded landscape of national surveys. Analysts caution that a single snapshot cannot predict midterm outcomes or long-term trends, but the numbers reinforce the challenge for Democrats as they seek to rebuild confidence and translate turnout into electoral gains in the years ahead.
