POLL: Voters Reject Dysfunction: Democrats Sink, Republicans Surge, and the Center Remains Up for Grabs
Quinnipiac University National Poll
Survey Dates: February 13 – 17, 2025
Sample Size: 1,039 registered voters nationwide
Margin of Error: ±3.0 percentage points
Sampling Method:
Probability-based sampling
Random digit dialing (RDD)
Live interviewers calling both landlines and cell phones
Results and crosstabs available here.
Democrats in Congress just hit their lowest approval rating ever, while Republicans are riding a record-high—yet both parties are struggling to win over the center. New Quinnipiac polling reveals deep dissatisfaction with Washington, a divided electorate on Trump, and a growing perception that America’s system of government is failing.
As an organization committed to ensuring both major parties understand and engage with the commonsense center, Center Aisle Coalition is analyzing these findings to help leaders move beyond partisan noise and toward practical solutions. With the 2026 midterms on the horizon, the data is clear: voters are looking for competence, stability, and real results—not just ideological posturing.
THE POLL: Quinnipiac University National Poll (February 2025)
1. Deep Dissatisfaction with Congressional Democrats
Congressional Democrats hit an all-time low approval rating of just 21%, with 68% disapproving.
Even among Democratic voters, only 40% approve of their party’s congressional performance, while 49% disapprove.
2. Republicans in Congress See a Record-High Approval Rating
40% of voters approve of Republicans in Congress, the highest rating ever recorded in Quinnipiac polling.
Still, 52% disapprove, indicating that while Republicans are outperforming Democrats, there is still considerable skepticism.
3. The System of Checks and Balances is Viewed as Broken
54% of voters say the system of checks and balances is not working well, while only 38% think it is functioning as intended.
Among Democrats, 80% believe the system is failing, compared to 41% of independents and just 34% of Republicans.
4. Trump’s Approval is Split, But His Policies Generate Mixed Reactions
45% of voters approve of President Trump’s performance, while 49% disapprove.
His handling of immigration (46% approval), the economy (44%), and foreign policy (44%) is viewed more favorably than his management of the Israel-Hamas conflict (38%) and Russia-Ukraine war (40%).
5. Elon Musk’s Role in Government is Highly Polarizing
55% of voters believe Musk has too much power, including a staggering 96% of Democrats and 56% of independents.
However, 78% of Republicans think Musk’s influence is about right.
6. Inflation Remains the Top Economic Concern
64% of voters say inflation is a “very serious” problem, with even 53% of Democrats agreeing.
Voters are evenly split on whether Trump’s policies will help (44%) or hurt (44%) the economy.
7. Foreign Policy: Strong Rejection of U.S. Takeover of Gaza
Only 22% of voters support Trump’s plan for the U.S. to take control of Gaza, while 62% oppose it.
94% of Democrats, 66% of independents, and even 32% of Republicans oppose the plan.
