Democrats are facing yet another round of grim news from the latest polls, and the party that once boasted of being the voice of working Americans is now burdened by internal division and voter pessimism. According to a fresh survey from the Associated Press and NORC at the University of Chicago, only 35 percent of Democrats feel optimistic about their party’s future, a sharp decline from the 57 percent optimism they enjoyed just last July. The poll reveals that a staggering 36 percent are flat-out pessimistic, while nearly one-third remain indifferent. Make no mistake: these are numbers that spell trouble for a party struggling to find its footing after a crushing defeat to President Trump.
The poll, conducted among 1,175 adults nationwide, underscores the disarray Democrats have found themselves in since Kamala Harris’ electoral defeat. Harris, once hailed by the mainstream media as the Democrats’ new savior, was unable to rally voters against President Trump’s America First message. Now, the party is left splintered along ideological and generational lines. Moderates battle progressives, younger members demand radical change, and the old guard—figures like Chuck Schumer—cling desperately to their waning influence.
Even veteran Democratic strategist James Carville, speaking on CNN, admitted the party’s image is “in the toilet.” While Carville pointed to isolated local wins as evidence of strength, the reality is clear: Democrats have lost touch with the heartland and working-class voters. The party’s embrace of woke ideology, high taxes, and open borders has driven working Americans directly into President Trump’s pro-growth, America First camp.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, long speculated as a potential Democratic presidential hopeful, recently conceded in Iowa, “Democrats do not have the best brand around here or in a lot of places. There’s a lot of reasons for that—some fair, and some not fair.” Buttigieg’s candid admission highlights Democrats’ inability to resonate with average Americans who want secure borders, revitalized manufacturing, better trade deals, and an end to endless foreign wars. These are the issues President Trump embraces, and these are the reasons Democrats have lost their way.
Meanwhile, the GOP remains energized and unified. The AP/NORC poll found that 55 percent of Republicans are optimistic about their party’s future, with only 21 percent pessimistic. The contrast is undeniable. While Democrats bicker and moan about ideological purity tests, Republicans have rallied around the President’s straightforward, commonsense philosophy of putting America first and respecting the values and priorities of ordinary citizens.
Adding fuel to the Democrat dumpster fire, new revelations from CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’ Alex Thompson detail former President Joe Biden’s deteriorating condition before his withdrawal from the 2024 race. Democrats who once tried to dismiss Biden’s frailty as a “right-wing conspiracy theory” are now forced to confront the truth: their party leadership hid Biden’s weakness from voters, gambling cynically with the country’s future. No wonder rank-and-file Democrats feel betrayed and pessimistic about their party’s direction.
Looking ahead to the 2026 midterms, Democrats face daunting odds. Their leaders stubbornly refuse to recalibrate their message or learn from their mistakes. Instead, they double down on unpopular policies and failed strategies. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s recent vote in favor of a GOP funding bill that included spending cuts signaled a deep divide within the party, infuriating progressives and confusing moderates alike. The result? Continued voter disillusionment and apathy.
CNN pollster Harry Enten recently warned, “These numbers should be a major wake-up call for Democrats. Democrats cannot count their chickens just yet, because those eggs have not cracked at this particular moment.” Enten is right. Democrats have lost credibility, lost their message, and, increasingly, lost their own voters.
The lesson here is clear. Democrats can continue to embrace identity politics, radical leftism, and open borders, or they can return to sanity and reconnect with the working Americans they’ve left behind. Until they make that choice, their polling numbers will continue to plummet, and President Trump’s America First agenda will continue to win.
