Democrat Approval Crashes to Historic Lows — Party Faces Base Revolt

Paul Riverbank, 12/19/2025Democratic approval hits historic lows as base and independents revolt, threatening party prospects.

This week, Harry Enten from CNN sat before the studio lights, looking genuinely puzzled as he described the new low. Congressional Democrats, he said, have tumbled to an approval rating not seen since polling groups began testing these waters over a decade and a half ago. Heading into June, their net approval rating sits fifty-five points below water—barely scraping 20% approval. For anyone tracking this stuff, that’s not just a blip; it’s a free-fall.

Among independents—the elusive segment every strategist claims to court—the news is even worse: a net rating sixty-one points underwater. That’s not just bad by recent standards; it’s unprecedented. For context, Quinnipiac University has carefully charted this measure for years, and their numbers have never dipped this low for Democrats in Congress.

So, what’s behind such a dramatic plunge? A few weeks ago, Democrats looked poised for a modest rebound following the government shutdown—the high-stakes kind that Washington loves in theory and the public hates in practice. Back then, Democratic approval among their own voters ran high, with a notable cushion as recently as October. Fast forward to now, and that goodwill has all but evaporated. The numbers actually flipped: from +22 to -6 among their base—a 28-point nosedive that’s left even longtime insiders scrambling for explanations.

Enten’s segment pointed to a sharp shift immediately after President Donald Trump moved to end the shutdown. Suddenly, Democratic supporters—many of whom had hoped for a stronger stance—began voicing frustration. Instead of a rallying cry, the resolution felt like a letdown. “This is Democrats on Democrats,” Enten noted, highlighting just how rare it is for a party's base to turn so quickly on its own leadership in Congress.

Among those unaffiliated with either major party, the mood is no less sour. Independents have long been canaries in the coalmine, often signaling shifts before the base feels them. This time, their verdict is unmistakable—and, for Democrats, deeply troubling. A party hoping to swing moderate districts can’t afford to be this unpopular among swing voters.

The generic ballot numbers, which offer a snapshot of where the House might lean, tell a similar story. Yes, Democrats still hold a marginal lead, but it’s nothing like the double-digit advantage they enjoyed at this point during previous Republican administrations. A lead of four points can evaporate overnight, especially when voter intensity and trust are in short supply.

None of this is lost on party strategists and longtime observers. In backrooms and private calls, some Democrats are quietly acknowledging a sense of drift—a worry that infighting and perceived failures on big promises have eroded trust even among the base. Voters, especially younger and more progressive ones, seem to be asking: what’s really changed since the last shutdown showdown?

History is unkind to parties that fall out of favor this dramatically, this quickly. As Enten cautioned, there’s no precedent in Quinnipiac’s records for a net rating this grim among Democrats in Congress. It’s a flashing red light. Moments like these are often inflection points, not footnotes.

Perhaps the starkest signal is the silence that’s replaced confidence among some of the party’s leaders. A few months ago, there was talk of a generational shift, of new policy initiatives to reset the story. Now, with midterms blinking on the horizon, the urge is more about damage control than offense.

If anything, the broader mood across the electorate might be best described as exasperated. Confidence in Congress remains low across the board, but for Democrats, the loss feels both sharper and more personal—their own most loyal supporters are now among the disillusioned.

One thing’s certain: polling this dire is easy to ignore at a party’s peril. If these numbers hold, the months ahead will test whether Congressional Democrats can rebuild not just their lead, but the trust of an electorate that’s seen plenty of promises and is still waiting for results.

If you’ve kept a finger on the nation’s political pulse lately, you might have sensed something more than the usual frustration toward Congress. The numbers back it up—though few probably expected what the latest polling has surfaced.This week, Harry Enten from CNN sat before the studio lights, looking genuinely puzzled as he described the new low. Congressional Democrats, he said, have tumbled to an approval rating not seen since polling groups began testing these waters over a decade and a half ago. Heading into June, their net approval rating sits fifty-five points below water—barely scraping 20% approval. For anyone tracking this stuff, that’s not just a blip; it’s a free-fall.Among independents—the elusive segment every strategist claims to court—the news is even worse: a net rating sixty-one points underwater. That’s not just bad by recent standards; it’s unprecedented. For context, Quinnipiac University has carefully charted this measure for years, and their numbers have never dipped this low for Democrats in Congress.So, what’s behind such a dramatic plunge? A few weeks ago, Democrats looked poised for a modest rebound following the government shutdown—the high-stakes kind that Washington loves in theory and the public hates in practice. Back then, Democratic approval among their own voters ran high, with a notable cushion as recently as October. Fast forward to now, and that goodwill has all but evaporated. The numbers actually flipped: from +22 to -6 among their base—a 28-point nosedive that’s left even longtime insiders scrambling for explanations.Enten’s segment pointed to a sharp shift immediately after President Donald Trump moved to end the shutdown. Suddenly, Democratic supporters—many of whom had hoped for a stronger stance—began voicing frustration. Instead of a rallying cry, the resolution felt like a letdown. “This is Democrats on Democrats,” Enten noted, highlighting just how rare it is for a party's base to turn so quickly on its own leadership in Congress.Among those unaffiliated with either major party, the mood is no less sour. Independents have long been canaries in the coalmine, often signaling shifts before the base feels them. This time, their verdict is unmistakable—and, for Democrats, deeply troubling. A party hoping to swing moderate districts can’t afford to be this unpopular among swing voters.The generic ballot numbers, which offer a snapshot of where the House might lean, tell a similar story. Yes, Democrats still hold a marginal lead, but it’s nothing like the double-digit advantage they enjoyed at this point during previous Republican administrations. A lead of four points can evaporate overnight, especially when voter intensity and trust are in short supply.None of this is lost on party strategists and longtime observers. In backrooms and private calls, some Democrats are quietly acknowledging a sense of drift—a worry that infighting and perceived failures on big promises have eroded trust even among the base. Voters, especially younger and more progressive ones, seem to be asking: what’s really changed since the last shutdown showdown?History is unkind to parties that fall out of favor this dramatically, this quickly. As Enten cautioned, there’s no precedent in Quinnipiac’s records for a net rating this grim among Democrats in Congress. It’s a flashing red light. Moments like these are often inflection points, not footnotes.Perhaps the starkest signal is the silence that’s replaced confidence among some of the party’s leaders. A few months ago, there was talk of a generational shift, of new policy initiatives to reset the story. Now, with midterms blinking on the horizon, the urge is more about damage control than offense.If anything, the broader mood across the electorate might be best described as exasperated. Confidence in Congress remains low across the board, but for Democrats, the loss feels both sharper and more personal—their own most loyal supporters are now among the disillusioned.One thing’s certain: polling this dire is easy to ignore at a party’s peril. If these numbers hold, the months ahead will test whether Congressional Democrats can rebuild not just their lead, but the trust of an electorate that’s seen plenty of promises and is still waiting for results.