Quinnipiac poll shows Democrats at record-low favorability; Kennedy Jr. under scrutiny

A Quinnipiac University poll released Sunday shows Democrats' favorability at a record low, with just 30% of registered voters viewing the party positively and 54% viewing it unfavorably. A majority of Americans, 54%, have an unfavorable view of the Democratic Party, and 10% said they haven't heard enough about the party to respond. The results come as Democrats lost the 2024 presidential election and do not control either chamber of Congress. The Republican Party—while not broadly popular either—draws 38% favorable and 51% unfavorable in the same survey.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a Democrat-turned-independent who allied with the MAGA movement last year, is also under pressure in the poll. Only 33% of voters approve of the way he is handling the top health post, while 54% disapprove and 13% offered no opinion. Kennedy's numbers have slipped since Quinnipiac's June survey; six months into the Trump administration, 38% approved, 53% disapproved, and 9% offered no opinion.

The poll also sheds light on medical information and vaccine policy. Just 17% of voters said they were very confident in the medical information Kennedy has cited, while 22% were somewhat confident, 46% were not confident at all, and 11% were not so confident.

On vaccine requirements for public-school students, a broad majority said such mandates should remain in place: 67% supported requirements for children to attend public school, while 26% opposed. Support varied by party: Democrats (91%) and independents (70%) were supportive, while Republicans were more divided (44% in favor, 46% opposed).

Tim Malloy, Quinnipiac University polling analyst, noted that the data show broad backing for vaccine mandates even as Kennedy's public-health messaging drew skepticism. The survey was conducted among 1,276 registered voters from September 18 through September 21, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points.