Brace yourself for a political nosedive that could make even the most seasoned Washington insider wince.
Congressional Democrats have sunk to an unprecedented low in public opinion, with a Quinnipiac University poll revealing a measly 18% approval rating against a staggering 73% disapproval, while still managing key electoral wins in New York City, New Jersey, and Virginia, as the Daily Caller reports.
The numbers are grim, folks, and they’ve been crunched by none other than CNN’s chief data analyst, Harry Enten, who didn’t mince words on Thursday when discussing this historic tumble.
According to the Quinnipiac survey published on Wednesday, Democrats in Congress are sitting at a net approval of negative 55 points—essentially, they’re underwater deeper than a submarine on a bad day.
Independents, often the swing voters who decide elections, are even less impressed, clocking in with a net approval of negative 61 points, signaling a profound disconnect with the middle ground.
Enten put it bluntly: “Look at this: -61 points,” highlighting just how far congressional Democrats have fallen in the eyes of those crucial unaffiliated voters.
Perhaps most shocking is that even self-identified Democrats are giving their own congressional representatives the cold shoulder, marking the first time Quinnipiac has recorded a net negative approval from within the party’s own ranks.
This internal discontent is a fresh wound, as Enten noted: “Democrats’ net approval rating of congressional Democrats … is actually lower than the disapproval rating” (CNN).
It’s a stunning reversal, reflecting a party at odds with itself over leadership and direction in Congress.
Interestingly, there was a brief uptick in approval during the October shutdown, a momentary “rallying-around-the-flag” effect that gave Democrats a fleeting boost.
But that goodwill evaporated faster than a puddle in the desert, with voters—especially Democrats—souring on how the shutdown was managed, leading to this current freefall.
The data from Quinnipiac, which has tracked this question for most of the 21st century, shows this is the worst shape congressional Democrats have ever been in, a point Enten hammered home on air.
Despite the abysmal polling, Democrats somehow pulled off significant victories in November, securing key seats in New York City, New Jersey, and Virginia—proof that local issues can still trump national sentiment.
Yet, with a Reuters/Ipsos poll showing 46% of Americans aged 50 and older leaning Republican compared to just 38% for Democrats, the party faces an uphill battle to regain broader trust.
These numbers aren’t just a wake-up call; they’re a blaring alarm for Democrats to rethink their approach, lest they risk further alienating a frustrated electorate tired of progressive missteps and perceived disconnects from everyday concerns.
