Voters give Democrats in Congress their lowest job approval rating on record, even as many still lean toward backing the party in next year’s elections, according to a new Quinnipiac University national poll.
Just 18% of registered voters approve of the way Democrats in Congress are handling their jobs, while 73% disapprove. That marks the lowest approval rating since Quinnipiac began tracking the question in 2009.
Despite the poor approval numbers, voters remain divided over control of the U.S. House of Representatives. If an election were held today, 47% say they would want Democrats to win control of the House, compared with 43% who favor Republicans.
Among Democrats themselves, dissatisfaction stands out. Only 42% approve of how their party’s members in Congress are performing, down sharply from earlier in the year.
Republicans in Congress fare better, but still face majority disapproval. Thirty-five percent of voters approve of Republicans’ performance, while 58% disapprove.
The economy and preserving democracy top voters’ concerns. When asked to name the most urgent issue facing the country, voters split evenly between the economy and preserving democracy, each at 24%. Immigration followed at 18%.
Views on party strengths vary by issue. Voters give Republicans an edge on handling the economy and immigration, while Democrats lead on preserving democracy and health care.
The poll also shows mixed views of President Donald Trump. Forty percent approve of his job performance, while 54% disapprove. A majority of voters, 54%, say Trump is going too far in using presidential power.
Economic anxiety remains widespread. Nearly two-thirds of voters describe the cost of living as a very serious problem, and almost half say the national economy is getting worse.
The Quinnipiac poll surveyed 1,035 registered voters nationwide between Dec. 11 and Dec. 15, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.
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