Democrats Facing Historic Low Approval Ratings
On a recent episode of the PBD Podcast, Republican strategist Scott Jennings shared his thoughts on why Democrats are experiencing such low approval ratings. According to a Wall Street Journal opinion survey published on Friday, only 33% of voters view the Democratic Party favorably, while 63% have an unfavorable view—marking the party’s worst figures since 1990.
Jennings noted that the combination of former President Joe Biden’s leadership and what he referred to as “cultural radicalism” within the party has led to this decline in popularity. He remarked, “The Democrats have misled the country about the significant impacts of their policies, digging the deepest hole for their party’s reputation in history.”
He further added, “Then there’s cultural radicalism. It’s like they want to take a stand on issues that don’t resonate with most Americans, such as allowing biological boys to compete in girls’ sports or providing transgender surgeries for prisoners. Kamala Harris seems willing to champion these causes, but when you prioritize such divisive issues, your approval ratings will inevitably reflect that.” This statement aligns with a January New York Times/Ipsos poll indicating that almost 80% of Americans believe biological males should not compete in women’s sports. Yet, only two House Democrats supported a bill aimed at protecting women in sports earlier this year.
Moreover, Senate Democrats blocked a similar measure in March, with 45 votes against it. Jennings emphasized how portraying Harris and the Democrats as overly progressive on transgender issues has been a winning strategy for Republicans, particularly in the lead-up to the 2024 elections.
He pointed out that one notable Trump campaign ad showcased Harris’s previous support for policies that, in his view, misrepresent voter concerns. The ad implied that if people can’t trust politicians to keep boys out of girls’ locker rooms, it raises questions about their stances on other significant issues like tax policies or inflation.
Interestingly, a CNN poll from July indicated a further dip in Democrats’ favorability, revealing a mere 28% approval rating—the lowest since 1992.
