Voters give Democrats in Congress their lowest job approval rating ever, according to a new national poll.
Just 18 percent of voters approve of how Democrats in Congress handle their jobs, while 73 percent disapprove, a record low since Quinnipiac University began asking the question in 2009.
Despite that frustration, voters still lean slightly toward Democrats when asked who should control the U.S. House of Representatives. Forty-seven percent say they would want Democrats in control, compared to 43 percent for Republicans.
“A family squabble spills over into the holidays,” said Quinnipiac University polling analyst Tim Malloy. “Democratic voters want their party to hold the reins of the House but are not the least bit happy about what they are doing at the moment.”
Views of Congress and the presidency
Republicans in Congress fare better but still face majority disapproval. Thirty-five percent of voters approve of Republicans’ job performance, while 58 percent disapprove.
President Donald Trump’s overall job approval stands at 40 percent, with 54 percent disapproving. The numbers remain unchanged from Quinnipiac’s October poll.
A majority of voters, 54 percent, say Trump goes too far in using presidential power. Thirty-seven percent say he handles it about right.
“More than half of Americans believe President Trump has crossed that line,” Malloy said.
Economy tops voter concerns
When asked to name the most urgent issue facing the country, voters split evenly between the economy and preserving democracy, with 24 percent choosing each. Immigration follows at 18 percent, and health care at 10 percent.
Most voters paint a bleak picture of the economy. Sixty-five percent describe it as “not so good” or “poor,” and 48 percent say it continues to get worse.
A strong majority, 64 percent, call the cost of living a very serious problem. Many voters say they struggle most with health care, rent or mortgage payments, groceries, and holiday expenses.
Immigration and democracy
On immigration, 55 percent of voters say the Trump administration treats undocumented immigrants too harshly. Fifty-seven percent favor giving most undocumented immigrants a pathway to legal status rather than deportation.
Seven in 10 voters say the Supreme Court should keep birthright citizenship in place under the Constitution.
About the poll
Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,035 registered voters nationwide from Dec. 11 through Dec. 15. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.
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