Democrats so far are unable to translate low approval for President Donald Trump into electoral gains, the latest polling from Economist-YouGov taken June 13 to June 15 shows, with Democrats only leading the generic Congressional ballot by just 2 points, 46 percent to 44 percent.
That, even with President Trump’s approval at just 41 percent in the same poll, with 56 percent disapproving.
Interestingly, 13 percent of Republicans disapprove of Trump, but only 1 percent of Republicans support the Democratic candidate for Congress. Conversely, 2 percent of Democrats say they’ll be voting for the Republican candidate.
Similarly, 64 percent of independents disapprove of Trump, but only 29 percent in the same poll say they’ll be supporting the Democratic candidate. 15 percent say the Republican, 19 percent are unsure and 35 percent say they just wouldn’t vote.
All that, even with inflation still leading as the top issue in the country for the fifth year running, at 31 percent. Jobs and the economy comes in at 15 percent. With inflation at 4.2 percent as the Iran war ratcheted up energy prices, the highest since May 2023, and economic concerns still paramount — account for 46 percent of the entire poll, with all demographics concerned about the economy — this should be ripe conditions for Democrats to do quite well in the election in November.
Instead, the poll is close.
In 2006, led the Real Clear Politics generic congressional ballot poll by 11.5 points and in 2018, Democrats led the Real Clear Politics generic congressional ballot by 7.3 points. Today, it’s just a 4.8 percent lead in the latest RealClearPolling.com average.
How to account for so little persuadability by Democrats with the general electorate?
Could it be their soft on crime approach that lets killers back on the streets?
Their open border policies to let millions of more illegal aliens into the country? Their refusal to deport anyone or even fund immigration enforcement and border protaction?
Their overtly rooting for America’s enemies abroad?
Their defense of welfare fraud in blue states?
Their promises to pack the Supreme Court?
To make Puerto Rico and D.C. states to pack the Senate?
To waste the country’s time with yet another pointless impeachment that will almost certainly end with another acquittal?
Or maybe their government shutdowns to nowhere when they don’t get what they want?
Could it be that Democrats are perceived as so radical that even when some Republicans and independents are unhappy with the state of things, they still cannot bring themselves to vote the other way?
For certain, we’ll find out in November. But for now, Democrats are definitely underperforming where they were in the 2006 and 2018 cycles — the last time Congressional midterms occurred with a Republican in a White House — potentially squandering an historic opportunity. As usual, stay tuned.
Robert Romano is the Executive Director of Americans for Limited Government Foundation.
