The Democratic Party is facing a crisis, with a new CNN poll showing its favorability has plummeted to a record low. The party’s internal struggles, highlighted by its failure in the latest government funding battle, are only worsening its standing.
Senate Democrats are grappling with the fallout after Minority Leader Chuck Schumer backed a House Republican-authored funding bill, giving up leverage they had against President Trump and Republicans. Many are questioning whether Schumer’s strategy, which led to a painful retreat, has cost the party crucial political capital.
This defeat has left the party deeply divided. Democrats who once sought to work with Republicans are now calling for a more combative approach.
Adding to the party’s woes is the CNN poll, which shows a troubling shift in public opinion. While the Democratic Party’s favorability has dropped significantly, Republicans have not fared much better, with their favorability holding steady at 36 percent. But for Democrats, the sharp decline in their favorability is a wake-up call that cannot be ignored.
Over half of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents now believe the party’s leadership is steering them in the wrong direction, a sharp contrast to the situation just a few years ago when the GOP was in control of the White House and Congress.
This growing sense of dissatisfaction within the Democratic Party is reflected in the shift in priorities among its base. More Democrats now want their party to focus on blocking Trump’s anti-democratic agenda. In 2017, 74 percent of Democrats wanted their party to cooperate with Republicans; today, just 42 percent hold that view. The rest, 57 percent, are increasingly calling for a more combative stance, even if it means heightened partisan conflict.
Senate Democrats are now facing a painful reckoning. With a potential debt ceiling battle looming and the September funding deadline just around the corner, the party’s internal strife has never been more apparent. Democrats must quickly regroup, find common ground, and establish a unified front. If they fail to do so, they risk not only another defeat in the fight for government funding but also further alienating the American public, whose trust in their leadership is already at an all-time low.
As Democrats reflect on their recent failures, they must confront a harsh reality: The stakes are higher than ever. They can no longer afford to squander opportunities for leverage or fail to address the deep divisions within their ranks. If the party hopes to rebuild its standing with voters, it must quickly regain its focus and prove it can stand strong against the GOP, particularly as Trump’s influence continues to loom large in Washington.
