Democratic Party confidence has plunged to its lowest level in decades as voters increasingly view the party negatively following recent electoral defeats and policy struggles.
Top Takeaways
- Democratic Party popularity has crashed to just 27% positive rating among registered voters, the lowest in NBC News polling since 1990
- Confidence in Democratic congressional leadership has hit an all-time low of 25%, compared to 39% for Republican leadership
- Democratic voters have shifted dramatically from favoring compromise (59% in 2017) to preferring confrontation with Trump (65% now)
- Independent voters overwhelmingly view Democrats negatively, with only 11% expressing positive opinions
- The party has lost a staggering 41 points in confidence among their own supporters since last year
Historic Drop in Democratic Party Support
The Democratic Party faces an unprecedented crisis of confidence according to multiple major polls. NBC News polling reveals just 27% of registered voters hold positive views of the party – the lowest rating recorded since tracking began in 1990. This collapse in support comes amid widespread voter dissatisfaction following recent electoral losses to President Donald Trump. The negative perception extends beyond Republicans, with a majority (55%) of all voters expressing unfavorable views of Democrats, including 38% who report “very negative” opinions.
The situation appears particularly dire among independent voters, crucial for electoral success in competitive districts. Only 11% of independents now view the Democratic Party positively, signaling potentially serious challenges for the party heading into the 2026 midterm elections. While congressional preference remains closely divided (48% favoring Democrats versus 47% supporting Republicans), the overall negative perception threatens to undermine Democratic electoral prospects.
Confidence in Congressional Democrats hits all time low in new poll https://t.co/SInkRNAkqn
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 18, 2025
Plummeting Confidence in Democratic Leadership
According to Gallup polling, confidence in Democratic congressional leadership has reached an all-time low of 25%, falling from the previous low mark of 34% recorded just last year. This stands in stark contrast to Republican congressional leadership, which enjoys a confidence rating of 39% – substantially higher than their own previous low of 24% in 2014. The decline represents a dramatic reversal from historical patterns when Democrats typically maintained higher confidence ratings than their Republican counterparts.
“With these numbers, the Democratic Party is not in need of a rebrand. It needs to be rebooted,” said Democratic pollster Jeff Horwitt.
Most troubling for Democrats is the collapse of confidence within their own base. Gallup reports that Democratic congressional leaders’ rating among party members has plummeted 41 points since last year to reach its lowest point ever recorded. This internal fracturing suggests deep dissatisfaction with the party’s direction, messaging, and effectiveness in countering President Trump’s agenda since his return to the White House.
Shifting Democratic Voter Priorities
Democratic voters have undergone a remarkable shift in their expectations of party leadership. In 2017, during Trump’s first term, 59% of Democrats favored compromise with the administration to achieve policy goals. Today, that sentiment has reversed dramatically, with 65% now preferring that Democratic lawmakers stand firm on principles even if it results in legislative gridlock. This hardening stance reflects growing partisan polarization and suggests Democratic voters are prioritizing resistance over pragmatic governance.
Party leaders are caught in a difficult position. Some Democratic officials argue that principled opposition to Trump is necessary to protect democratic institutions. Others, like Representative Pete Aguilar, worry about finding themselves aligned with administration policies: “When Donald Trump wakes up in the morning and says, ‘You’re doing the right things, Senate Democrats’ — we don’t feel that is the right place to be,” a possible reference to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s decision to vote with Republicans on a recent spending bill. This internal debate over strategy and messaging appears to be contributing to voter confusion about the party’s core values and direction.
Rebuilding Voter Trust
Democratic strategists face the daunting task of rebuilding voter trust while Republican confidence continues to strengthen. The party has lost control of both the White House and Senate, while simultaneously seeing Republicans make gains among traditionally Democratic constituencies. Adding to these challenges, multiple national polls from organizations including Quinnipiac University, CNN, and NBC News all confirm the declining favorable ratings for Democrats across various demographic groups.
“While this survey shows a mixed result for Donald Trump, Democrats are the ones in the wilderness right now,” said Horwitt.
As the party looks toward future elections, finding the right balance between principled opposition and constructive policy alternatives may determine whether Democrats can reverse their declining public support or continue their downward spiral.
