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CV NEWS FEED // A new poll released Wednesday reveals a drop in Democratic voter confidence, with just one-third expressing optimism about the future of their party, down from nearly 60% last July.
The poll, conducted May 1-5 by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, follows significant November losses in which Democrats lost the White House and both chambers of Congress. Now, only 33% of Democrats report being “very” or “somewhat” optimistic about their party’s direction.
“I just feel like the majority of the old Democratic Party needs to go,” said Monica Brown, a 61-year-old Democrat from Tennessee. “They’re not in tune with the new generation. They’re not in tune with the new world. We’ve got such division within the party.”
By contrast, Republican voters appear increasingly confident. The same poll found 55% of Republicans are optimistic about the GOP’s future, up from 47% in July 2024.
Still, the broader public remains dissatisfied with both parties. Only 33% of Americans view the Democratic Party favorably, compared to 40% for the Republican Party.
Among GOP leaders, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is viewed most favorably by Republican voters at 60%. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth each hold about 50% support within the party and 25% among the general public.
On the Democrat side, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s, D-N.Y., favorability dropped sharply, falling from about 50% approval last December to just one-third today. Critics blame his March decision to back a Republican-led funding bill, which triggered backlash within his own party. Meanwhile, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., holds a 50% favorability rating among Democrats, while Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., is backed by about 75% of Democrats.
The poll also points to growing dissatisfaction with the political system. A majority of Democrats, 55%, say they are pessimistic about how political leaders are selected, up from 46% last summer.
A separate Washington Post/ABC News poll last month underscores voter frustration, showing 69% of Americans view the Democratic Party as “out of touch,” with 64% saying the same of the GOP.
