Politics is messy. If you've looked at a poll lately, you probably think nobody likes anybody in Washington. Honestly, you're not wrong. As we kick off January 2026, the numbers coming out of the major polling houses are—to put it lightly—brutal. But there is a weird, almost inexplicable gap between how much people "approve" of the party and how they actually plan to vote in the upcoming midterms.
Let's look at the hard data first.
What is the Democratic party approval rating right now?
If you want the short version: it’s low. According to a Gallup survey released in late December 2025, the approval rating for Democrats in Congress sat at just 24%. That is a tough pill to swallow. To make matters worse, a Quinnipiac University poll around the same time pegged the job approval for congressional Democrats at a record low of 18%.
Wait. 18%? That’s basically the floor.
Even within their own ranks, the party is struggling. Typically, you expect a party to have 80% or 90% support from its own members. Not right now. Only about 42% to 49% of self-identified Democrats say they approve of the job their party is doing in Congress. There's a lot of "friendly fire" going on. Voters on the left are frustrated with the pace of progress, even while the other side is pushing a completely different agenda.
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The Weird Paradox of 2026
Here is where things get interesting. Despite those dismal approval numbers, the Democratic party approval rating doesn't necessarily mean they're going to lose in November.
It sounds crazy. If people hate the job you're doing, they should vote you out, right? Well, the "generic ballot" tells a different story. Even with record-low approval, a Marquette Law School poll from November 2025 showed that 49% of registered voters would still choose a Democrat for Congress if the election were held today, compared to 44% for a Republican.
Basically, voters are saying: "I don't like what you're doing, but I like the other guys even less."
It’s a "lesser of two evils" scenario that has become the hallmark of American politics in 2026. The Marquette data even shows that among people who say they are "certain to vote," the Democratic lead grows to 53% vs 44%.
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Why are the numbers so low?
A few things are hitting the party at once. First, the leadership isn't exactly winning popularity contests. Hakeem Jeffries is holding steady with a 64% approval among Democrats—which is decent—but Chuck Schumer has seen his internal party support crater to 39%, down from 76% just two years ago.
- Internal Division: Progressives feel the party isn't fighting hard enough on climate and student debt.
- The Trump Factor: With Donald Trump back in the White House, the Democratic party has become a "resistance" party again, which is a role that often keeps your approval ratings low because you aren't actually "passing" anything—you're just blocking.
- Economic Gloom: Even though the stock market is doing its thing, 47% of Americans tell Gallup the economy is "poor." People usually blame the party they see as the establishment, and even out of power, the Democrats are catching some of that heat.
Favorability vs. Job Approval
We have to distinguish between "Do I like you?" and "Are you doing a good job?"
Gallup’s latest favorability ratings show the Democratic Party at 37% favorable. The GOP is at 40%. Neither side is exactly "winning" hearts and minds. However, when you ask people who they trust more on specific issues, the Democrats still hold a lead on things like healthcare (51%) and preserving democracy (49%).
On the flip side, Republicans are crushing it on immigration (47%) and national security (48%).
What this means for your vote
If you're trying to make sense of the Democratic party approval rating for the 2026 midterms, don't just look at the 18% or 24% approval numbers. They are misleading. They reflect a general "crankiness" with the status quo rather than a desire to switch sides.
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The real number to watch is the Independent voter. Gallup says a record 45% of Americans now call themselves Independents. More of these people are currently "leaning" Democratic (20%) than Republican (15%). That 5-point gap in leaning is what's keeping the Democratic party competitive despite the fact that nobody seems to want to give them a gold star for performance.
Actionable Insights for Following the 2026 Cycle:
- Ignore the "Approval" Headline: Look for the Generic Congressional Ballot. It’s a much better predictor of who will actually win seats.
- Watch the "Leaning" Independents: Since fewer people are identifying as "Democrat" or "Republican" outright, the party that wins the 10% of "true" independents who don't lean either way will take the House.
- Check the "Certain to Vote" Metric: High disapproval doesn't matter if those voters stay home. Currently, Democrats have a slight edge in "enthusiasm," which is weird given their low approval, but fear of the opposition is a powerful motivator.
The 2026 landscape is shaping up to be one of the most cynical in history. Voters are unhappy, but they aren't necessarily ready to flip the script. They’re just waiting to see who blinks first.