Why Is Democratic Favorability at a 35-Year Low?
Democrats find themselves at a 35-year low in terms of party favorability. A recent Wall Street Journal poll lays out the gory details:
The new survey finds that 63 percent of voters hold an unfavorable view of the Democratic Party—the highest share in Journal polls dating to 1990 and 30 percentage points higher than the 33 percent who hold a favorable view.
That is a far weaker assessment than voters give to either President Trump or the Republican Party, who are viewed more unfavorably than favorably by 7 points and 11 points, respectively. A mere 8 percent of voters view the Democrats “very favorably,” compared with 19 percent who show that level of enthusiasm for the GOP.
What’s more, on every major issue except health care and vaccines, voters prefer congressional Republicans over congressional Democrats.
The WSJ poll doesn’t provide a clear answer about why Democrats are doing so poorly in voters’ eyes. But given past research and known trends, here are the leading theses:
Democratic leaders are perceived to be old and out of touch, and no new party figurehead has yet emerged.
That nothing has really changed since the collapse of the Biden-Harris administration in last year’s election.
President Biden’s age and declining capacities, and the lengths to which party leaders went to ignore or downplay it, left a permanently sour taste in the mouths of many Americans. Democrats are increasingly viewed as a washed-up party with uninspiring leadership.
“Anti-Trumpism” hasn’t improved the party’s image.
Democrats have once again gone all-in on “resistance” politics and “anti-Trumpism.” Yet none of this anger and frustration with Trump has blossomed into rising sentiments for the out-party.
The party’s inchoate rage may actually aid Trump’s standing, as voters now clearly dislike and distrust Democrats more than they did before. Quite an accomplishment!
The Democrats’ cultural agenda is still unaltered and too radical.
Quick round robin: What issue have Democrats moderated on since the election? Immigration? Trans issues? Crime? Climate change?
Answer: none of the above.
Democrats may have put their most distasteful rhetoric and ideas on ice, but with the exception of a few party renegades, they haven’t really cast any votes that show cultural adaptation or offered any truly moderate approaches on social issues.
Voters aren’t dumb, though; they know when you’re fibbing or dodging the issue, as Democrats continue to do on their worst-performing agenda items.
The Democrats’ last economic plan was a dud, and they still have no alternative vision.
“Bidenomics” was a colossal failure in the eyes of many voters.
Considerable amounts of new government spending, new EV regulations, student debt elimination, and other expensive steps left no lasting impression with voters other than wasted money and high inflation.
Where is the new infrastructure that was promised?
Where were the lower prices from the “Inflation Reduction Act?”
https://www.liberalpatriot.com/p/why-is-democratic-favorability-at
John Halpin
Jul 30, 2025
The new survey finds that 63 percent of voters hold an unfavorable view of the Democratic Party—the highest share in Journal polls dating to 1990 and 30 percentage points higher than the 33 percent who hold a favorable view.
That is a far weaker assessment than voters give to either President Trump or the Republican Party, who are viewed more unfavorably than favorably by 7 points and 11 points, respectively. A mere 8 percent of voters view the Democrats “very favorably,” compared with 19 percent who show that level of enthusiasm for the GOP.
What’s more, on every major issue except health care and vaccines, voters prefer congressional Republicans over congressional Democrats.
The WSJ poll doesn’t provide a clear answer about why Democrats are doing so poorly in voters’ eyes. But given past research and known trends, here are the leading theses:
Democratic leaders are perceived to be old and out of touch, and no new party figurehead has yet emerged.
That nothing has really changed since the collapse of the Biden-Harris administration in last year’s election.
President Biden’s age and declining capacities, and the lengths to which party leaders went to ignore or downplay it, left a permanently sour taste in the mouths of many Americans. Democrats are increasingly viewed as a washed-up party with uninspiring leadership.
“Anti-Trumpism” hasn’t improved the party’s image.
Democrats have once again gone all-in on “resistance” politics and “anti-Trumpism.” Yet none of this anger and frustration with Trump has blossomed into rising sentiments for the out-party.
The party’s inchoate rage may actually aid Trump’s standing, as voters now clearly dislike and distrust Democrats more than they did before. Quite an accomplishment!
The Democrats’ cultural agenda is still unaltered and too radical.
Quick round robin: What issue have Democrats moderated on since the election? Immigration? Trans issues? Crime? Climate change?
Answer: none of the above.
Democrats may have put their most distasteful rhetoric and ideas on ice, but with the exception of a few party renegades, they haven’t really cast any votes that show cultural adaptation or offered any truly moderate approaches on social issues.
Voters aren’t dumb, though; they know when you’re fibbing or dodging the issue, as Democrats continue to do on their worst-performing agenda items.
The Democrats’ last economic plan was a dud, and they still have no alternative vision.
“Bidenomics” was a colossal failure in the eyes of many voters.
Considerable amounts of new government spending, new EV regulations, student debt elimination, and other expensive steps left no lasting impression with voters other than wasted money and high inflation.
Where is the new infrastructure that was promised?
Where were the lower prices from the “Inflation Reduction Act?”
https://www.liberalpatriot.com/p/why-is-democratic-favorability-at
John Halpin
Jul 30, 2025
