Democrats' frustration with their party sees sharp increase, poll shows
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Democrats are increasingly losing faith in their party and its leaders — far outpacing Republicans who have doubts about the GOP, according to Pew Research Center data collected before the government shutdown.
The big picture: Democrats' party frustration has risen sharply in recent years, while Republicans' dissatisfaction has eased, underscoring levels of party confidence a year before the 2026 midterm elections.
- 67% of Democrats say they're frustrated with their party, up from about half in Pew polls from 2021 and 2019. Per the poll, most of the aggravation stems from a belief that congressional Democrats haven't pushed back enough against the Trump administration.
- Only 40% of Republicans say they're frustrated with their party, down from 2021 levels — and 69% even say the GOP makes them feel hopeful.
- Overall, three-quarters of Americans are frustrated with Democrats, compared to 65% who feel the same about the Republican Party.
By the numbers: Americans see both parties as roughly equal when it comes to governing ethically and honestly.
- However, Democrats and Republicans alike say both parties are too extreme, with the GOP holding a slight edge, 61% to 57%.
- Only 36% of Americans are hopeful about the Republican Party, compared to 28% of those who feel the same about the Democratic Party.
- Just over a quarter of Americans are proud of the Republican Party, with only 16% saying the same across the aisle.
The intrigue: About 1 in 4 Americans say neither party represents their interests well, mirroring results from previous years.
- Most Democrats and Republicans say it's very important for the other side's politicians to compromise with their own party.
Yes, but: Fewer than half on either side say it's equally important for their own party's leaders to compromise across the aisle.
Methodology: The nationwide poll was conducted Sept 22-28, 2025. Online and telephone interviews were conducted with a random sample of 3,445 adults. The overall margin of sampling error is +/- 1.9 percentage points.
