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A stunning new poll found that the overwhelming majority of Americans believed that the Democratic Party was unable to get things done, and did not display strong leadership qualities.
Only 16 percent, or less than one-fifth, of those surveyed favorably viewed the party, according to data from CNN/SSRS. By contrast, 40 percent believed that the Republican Party better displayed these qualities.
When asked which of the two major parties could best “get things done,” 19 percent felt that this applied to Democrats, 36 percent said Republicans, and 44 percent believed in neither.
These dismal favorability ratings for Democrats come amid a series of low polls taken in recent months showing these trends. An NBC News poll from March found that just 27 percent of Registered Voters viewed the Democrats positively, their lowest favorability rating since the network began polling in 1990.
Furthermore, with the 2026 midterm elections approaching, Democrats hope to regain control of the House and Senate. Historically, the party opposite the White House gains seats in midterm elections. Historically speaking, Democrats should outperform Republicans under a Republican President Trump.
However, Democrats’ latest favorability ratings could make this all the more difficult.
The RealClearPolitics polling averages currently show Democrats leading Republicans by under three points (46.1 percent to 43.7 percent) in the generic congressional ballot.
These figures are already six points below their victory in 2018, when they swept the generic congressional vote by over eight points. A small two-point victory may only gain their party a few seats in the lower chamber, potentially keeping them in the minority.
The Senate will be even more difficult for the Democrats to win, as Republicans currently hold 53 seats to their 47. In the 2026 midterms, only two Republican-held seats, Maine and North Carolina, are viewed as competitive. Democrats must also hold onto two states that President Trump carried in 2024—Georgia and Michigan.
Assuming that the Democrats successfully defend Georgia and Michigan, and flip Maine and North Carolina, they would still be behind Republicans in the upper chamber.
The CNN poll surveyed 2,539 adults between May 5-26, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.7 percentage points.
