New Quinnipiac Poll Has Donkey Party at 18% Approval

Congressional Democrats are in a political nose-dive.

Democrats on Capitol Hill have sunk to a record-low 18% job approval rating, according to a new Quinnipiac University national poll released Wednesday — a brutal snapshot of voter frustration as Washington barrels toward a pivotal midterm year.

The survey found a staggering 73% of registered voters disapprove of how congressional Democrats are handling their jobs — the lowest approval Quinnipiac has recorded since it began asking the question in 2009.

The previous low? Just 19% approval back in July.

And the damage isn’t just coming from Republicans or independents.

Democrats are souring on their own leadership.

Among self-identified Democrats, only 42% approve of their party’s performance in Congress, while 48% disapprove — a sharp reversal from October, when 58% approved and 36% disapproved.

Quinnipiac polling analyst Tim Malloy described the growing intraparty revolt as a “family squabble” spilling into the holiday season. Democratic voters may still want their party to control the House, Malloy noted — but they are “not the least bit happy” with what they’re seeing from party leaders.

CNN conservative commentator Scott Jennings shared the poll on X; “Not a typo,” Jennings quipped.

18. Not a typo. https://t.co/BvyrS6dWd6

— Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) December 17, 2025