Congressional approval has plunged to a near-record low, with public discontent mounting as voters weigh in ahead of the 2026 midterms; this article examines the Gallup numbers, party-by-party breakdowns, policy fights like the SAVE America Act and DHS funding, demographic skews, and how obstruction and scandals have shaped perceptions of Congress.
Recent polling shows overall congressional approval at 10 percent while disapproval sits at 86 percent, a tie for Gallup’s worst reading. Support for Democrats specifically is down to 3 percent, a level nearly unprecedented in Gallup’s history. These numbers reflect broad frustration with how Washington is functioning right now.
Approval briefly rose to 31 percent in March 2025 after the GOP picked up seats, fueled by energized Republican voters hopeful about a new majority. That optimism did not last, and by April 2026 approval collapsed back toward the low double digits. The swing underscores how quickly confidence can evaporate when voters see little substantive action.
The sustained low approval among Democrats is striking because it has persisted for nearly a year. That stretch coincides with a clear pattern: Democratic leadership repeatedly choosing procedural resistance over advancing legislation with the majority. Voters who backed Democrats expected governance, not prolonged obstruction, and the 3 percent approval rating signals how disillusioned many of those voters have become.
At the center of the current standoff is the stalled Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act, a priority for Republican lawmakers that public polling indicates has broad support. Senate procedures, including filibuster threats and other delay tactics, have prevented a vote on the measure, drawing criticism from constituents who want Congress to deliver results. Meanwhile, a lapse in funding for the Department of Homeland Security has dragged on, contributing to a shutdown atmosphere that historically knocks approval ratings down further.
Party breakdowns reveal where the anger is concentrated, but not confined. Republicans report 20 percent approval for Congress alongside 76 percent disapproval, a sign that the GOP base is impatient with a majority that has not fully converted power into policy wins. Independents register 11 percent approval and 84 percent disapproval, showing broad cross-party disappointment with the institution as a whole.
Democrats, however, are uniquely punishing their own party’s brand of politics, with approval remaining at 3 percent. That figure works as both a rebuke and a reflection: a rebuke to leaders who leaned into delay tactics, and a reflection of a voter base losing faith in its representatives to make tangible progress. When party strategy centers on obstruction, the base eventually judges the party on outcomes rather than intentions.
Demographic splits do not offer much solace. Younger adults ages 18 to 34 and those 35 to 54 both show roughly 12 percent approval, while Americans 55 and older sit at about 7 percent approval. These low figures across age groups point to systemic dissatisfaction, not a single cohort’s transient frustration.
Income and education brackets mirror the same trend. Households earning under $50,000 give Congress about 13 percent approval, middle earners at $50,000 to $100,000 sit near 11 percent, and those over $100,000 hover around 8 percent. College graduates and those with a high school education show only modest variation, which suggests that disappointment is widespread across economic and educational lines.
Certain events have amplified the negative sentiment. Operation Epic Fury created unease among voters across party lines, yet Democratic approval did not show meaningful recovery afterward. The mid-April resignations of two members of Congress following sexual misconduct allegations intensified the perception of dysfunction, making it harder for the institution to regain credibility during an already difficult period.
Historically, Congress averaged about 28 percent approval since Gallup began asking the question in 1974, with sharp drops often followed by rebounds when conditions changed. The current 10 percent approval reading sits well below that long-term average, signaling a crisis of confidence that will likely shape political messaging and electoral strategies through the next campaign cycle.
At the core, the 3 percent approval among Democrats also serves as a political mirror. A party that has spent significant time blocking legislation and refusing to compromise now faces the tangible consequences of that approach in the court of public opinion. Voters are judging results, and sustained obstruction without clear wins leaves leaders vulnerable to backlash from their own supporters.
Editor’s Note: The Democrats are doing everything in their power to undermine the integrity of our elections.
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