Polling News

Democratic Party Approval Rating and Generic Ballot

May 15, 2025

President Donald Trump’s approval ratings have declined since his January 20 inauguration but so have the Democratic Party’s favorable rating. A recent Fox News poll finds it’s worse than the Republican Party’s rating today.  That said, these ratings haven’t yet translated into ballot gains for the GOP.

By The Numbers:

  • In July 2024, 47% of voters have a favorable view of the Democrat Party, including 39% of Independents. Today, only 41% of voters have a favorable view of the Democratic Party. Its favorable rating dropped 11 points among Independents to 28%.

  • Forty-three percent of voters had a favorable view of the Republican Party last July, but only 27% among Independents. Today 44% of voters have a favorable view of the Republican Party, including just 23% among Independents. 

  • At this point in 2017, 47% of voters said they would support a Democratic candidate for Congress, compared to 42% who said they would support a Republican candidate. Today those numbers are 49% Democratic to 42% Republican.

The Bottom Line: Even though Democrats are losing favorability, they still hold an advantage on the generic ballot. Democrats perform better on the generic ballot with Independents (40%-18%), blacks (68%-21%), voters under 30 (60%-33%), and college educated women (59%-37%). Republicans have an edge with white men without a degree (54%-38%) and white evangelical Christians (66%-29%). Democrats and Republicans are somewhat even with rural voters (40% Democrat-50% Republican). Even though the Democratic Party favorability rating have dropped, Republican leaders, incumbents, and challengers still have much to do to make the sell next November on what they have done for the country and what they’ll continue to do. 

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