Democrats Hit Historic Low in Polls as GOP Leads in Trust, Fundraising

The Democratic Party is facing a major crisis of public confidence as a new Wall Street Journal poll reveals its lowest favorability rating since 1990, compounding fears of a disastrous performance in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections.

Only 33% of voters said they view the Democratic Party favorably, while 63% expressed unfavorable opinions, surpassing even the GOP’s negative ratings—a remarkable political reversal given the ongoing public criticism of Republican leadership on inflation, tariffs, and immigration.

Despite this, Republicans continue to outperform Democrats in voter trust across 11 of 13 key policy areas, including the economy, national security, border control, and education. Democrats held narrow advantages only in healthcare policy and vaccine management, according to the poll of 1,500 registered voters (±2.5% margin of error).

Compounding the issue is a growing financial gap: GOP-aligned candidates have collectively raised over $80 million, while Democratic candidates have gathered just $15 million. Fundraising shortfalls are already forcing Democrats to scale back field operations and digital ad buys in at least 8 swing districts.

The poll also showed a striking shift in party identification trends. For the first time since 2017, more Americans identify as Republicans (37%) than Democrats (35%), with 24% identifying as independents or unaffiliated.

Democratic leadership has acknowledged the challenges, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries announcing a “listening tour” and nationwide town halls in key battleground states. “We have work to do to reconnect with working families,” Jeffries said. However, some progressive factions within the party argue the leadership has failed to offer bold, compelling alternatives to Trump-era economic populism.

Political analysts warn that unless the Democratic Party recalibrates its platform and messaging strategy, it may face a Republican supermajority in Congress, especially as Trump and his allies prepare for a 2026 Senate map that already favors the GOP.