In a striking blow to the Democratic Party, a recent Wall Street Journal poll conducted on July 26, 2025, shows that the party’s favorability rating has sunk to its lowest point in 35 years. With 63% of voters viewing Democrats unfavorably compared to just 33% with a positive view, the party faces a significant challenge as it approaches the 2026 midterm elections. This marks a sharp decline from historical data, as the combined favorability of both major parties—Democrats at -30% and Republicans at -11%—is the worst since the poll began in 1990.
A Shifting Political Landscape
The poll highlights a broader trend not only in the United States but also across Western democracies. Richard Pildes, in his 2025 John S. Sullivan Lecture at Capital University titled The Decline of Political Authority: Legal and Political Challenges in Western Democracies, 2015-2025, notes a similar decline in support for traditionally dominant center-left and center-right parties in Europe. This erosion of trust in established political institutions signals a growing disconnect between voters and the parties they once relied on.
In the U.S., the Democratic Party’s struggles are particularly stark. Unlike in 2017, when Democrats held a 6-point edge over Republicans in voter identification, the latest WSJ poll shows Republicans now lead by 1 point—a rare shift in the electorate’s structure. This change comes after Republicans built their first durable lead in party identification in over three decades in 2024, a lead they’ve maintained into 2025.
Key Issues and Voter Preferences
The WSJ survey tested voter preferences on 10 key issues, and Republicans emerged as the preferred party on most, including:
Inflation: Republicans lead by 10 points.
Immigration and handling of illegal immigrants: Republicans hold a 17-point advantage.
Tariffs: Despite 17% disapproval of President Trump’s tariffs, Republicans still score 7 points higher than Democrats.
The only areas where Democrats outperformed Republicans were healthcare and vaccine policy, indicating a narrow path for the party to rebuild its credibility.
Democratic pollster John Anzalone, who collaborated with Republican Tony Fabrizio on the survey, emphasized the severity of the Democrats’ predicament: “The Democratic brand is so bad that they don’t have the credibility to be a critic of Trump or the Republican Party. Until they reconnect with real voters and working people on who they’re for and what their economic message is, they’re going to have problems.”
Challenges Ahead for Democrats
Historically, the party out of power in the White House has an advantage in midterm elections. Democrats hoped to capitalize on this trend, as they did in 2018 when they flipped 40 House seats during Trump’s first term. However, the current political environment differs significantly. With 46% of voters favoring a Democratic candidate for Congress compared to 43% for Republicans, the gap is narrower than expected, suggesting Democrats have not yet regained voter trust.
President Trump’s approval rating, while underwater at 46% approval and 52% disapproval, is higher than it was at this point in his first term (40%). Additionally, 51% of voters view Trump’s changes as causing “dysfunction and chaos,” compared to 45% who see positive adjustments. Yet, this dissatisfaction has not translated into a clear advantage for Democrats, who are still grappling with the fallout from their 2024 election loss and a lack of cohesive messaging.
Immigration: A Double-Edged Sword
A separate WSJ poll conducted on July 28, 2025, underscores the complexity of voter sentiment on key issues like immigration. While 62% of voters support deporting people who entered the country illegally, and just over half approve of Trump’s handling of the issue, many disapprove of the administration’s methods, such as sending immigrants to prisons in other countries. This suggests that while voters align with the GOP’s goals on immigration, the execution of these policies could alienate some supporters.
What’s Next for Democrats?
For Democrats, the road to recovery is steep. The party must redefine its message and reconnect with working-class voters to restore its credibility. As Anzalone noted, without a clear economic message and a focus on voter priorities, Democrats risk further alienation. The 2026 midterms will test whether the party can leverage voter frustration with the current administration or if their weakened brand will hinder their chances of regaining control of Congress.
As the political landscape continues to shift, both parties face challenges in maintaining voter trust. For now, the WSJ poll paints a grim picture for Democrats, who must act swiftly to reverse their declining favorability and prove they can address the issues that matter most to Americans.
