Democrats reached a record low in approval rating, according to a recent NBC poll.
The poll showed 27% of voters have a positive view of Democrats, while 55% hold a negative view. These numbers are the lowest recorded approval ratings since NBC began tracking them 30 years ago, and they have dropped rapidly since the 2024 election.
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), along with nine other Democrats, recently voted in favor of a continuing resolution to keep the government open. His action angered the party’s liberal base, which accused Schumer of caving to President Donald Trump.
“I myself don’t give away anything for nothing,” Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said. “I think that’s what happened the other day.”
In reality, Schumer’s decision was a compromise. The CR was not everything that Trump and his fellow Republicans wanted, but it allowed the government to stay open while the parties worked out a new spending bill.
Trump kept the government open, making it easier for his administration to enact policy. Meanwhile, Democrats had at least some say in spending until the CR expires on Sept. 30.
Schumer, unlike most other Democrats, did not want a government shutdown. He feared a closed government would allow Elon Musk to make more cuts using the Department of Government Efficiency. Supporting the CR was his best option.
Schumer may also be attempting to win back moderate Democrat voters by showing his willingness to work out a deal with Senate Republicans.
Most Democrats, however, want to stand firm on more radical liberal policies, even if they ultimately lose the election. Rather than compromise with Trump on government spending, they feel a need to stop him at every turn.
To make matters worse, Schumer’s group is only 10 out of more than 250 congressional Democrats. Even if Schumer’s actions win back some voters, the main party and the liberal voting base will be upset.
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It seems to be a no-win scenario for Democrats, as 65% of Democrat voters want their party to block Trump whenever possible, as opposed to the 32% that want to compromise. The majority may be with the liberal wing, but Democrats can’t do without the support of the more centrist wing.
As Democrats continue fighting, Trump’s approval seems to grow stronger. An NBC news poll has Trump at a 47% approval rating, a record high from the organization.