Democratic Party Approval Slips to 40% Amid Leadership Vacuum, Poll Shows

The Democratic Party's national approval rating has fallen to 40%, according to a new Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll, underscoring persistent challenges for the party as it confronts internal fractures and mounting pressure from its base.

The poll shows a 2-point drop in approval from June. Among independents and other non-Democratic voters, approval stood at 29%, while 72% of Democratic respondents gave the party a favorable rating. By contrast, Republicans received a 48% approval rating overall, bolstered by strong support from within their base.

The findings reflect a broader struggle within the party following disappointing results in the last election cycle. Democrats are attempting to reframe their message and leadership strategy, but tensions remain over how aggressively to respond to the return of Donald Trump and a Republican-led policy agenda.

Former President Barack Obama, speaking at a fundraiser on Friday, urged Democrats to stop "navel-gazing" and act. "Don't tell me you're a Democrat, but you're kind of disappointed right now, so you're not doing anything," he explained. "No, now is exactly the time that you get in there and do something." He encouraged support for pragmatic candidates and warned against excessive focus on ideological debates.

Internally, Democratic lawmakers have acknowledged feeling pressure from a frustrated and often angry base. According to Axios reporting, members of Congress have encountered demands to adopt more combative tactics, abandon traditional norms, and in some cases, embrace confrontation. "Our own base is telling us that what we're doing is not good enough," one House Democrat told the news site. Others described grassroots calls for actions that include civil disobedience or even physical risk.

Senator Elissa Slotkin has been one of the most vocal lawmakers voicing concerns about the party's lack of unity and clear leadership. "We don't act as a team," she said in a recent speech at the Center for American Progress.

Calling the party "a solar system with no sun," Slotkin urged a return to economic messaging and a more disciplined, strategic approach. She has repeatedly pushed for a "military-style" political strategy, warning that the Democratic Party must shift away from appearing "weak and woke" and instead project strength.

Despite some gains in opposing specific Republican proposals, such as cuts to Medicaid, the party continues to search for cohesion and a national voice capable of rallying both its leadership and its voter base ahead of the next election cycle.