Democrats are growing increasingly discouraged about the direction of their party, according to a new AP-NORC poll released six months after Donald Trump returned to the presidency.
Only about one in three Democrats now say they feel optimistic about the party’s future — a steep drop from last July, when nearly 60% felt hopeful. Many cite a lack of strong leadership and frustration over how little is being done to counter Trump’s influence.
“I’m not real high on Democrats right now,” said Damien Williams, a 48-year-old Teamsters member from Illinois. “They’re not doing enough to push back.”
The poll also found that overall, neither major party is viewed favorably by a majority of Americans. About 40% of adults have a positive opinion of the GOP, while support for Democrats is even lower, at roughly one-third.
Within the Democratic Party, Senator Bernie Sanders remains the most popular figure, with about three-quarters of Democrats viewing him favorably. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is backed by about half, but Senate leader Chuck Schumer’s support has dropped significantly since late 2024.
On the Republican side, Secretary of State Marco Rubio leads in popularity among GOP voters, followed by House Speaker Mike Johnson and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth — though their appeal is much lower among the general public.
Republicans appear slightly more upbeat about their party’s direction than last year, with 55% expressing optimism, up from 47%. But trust in the overall political system remains weak. Just 3 in 10 Republicans say they’re optimistic about U.S. politics — better than last year’s 1 in 10, but still low.
The poll also revealed broader doubts about how political leaders are selected. A majority of Democrats (55%) said they don’t trust the current system — pointing to gerrymandering and the Electoral College as key concerns.
“I think the system worked in the past, but it doesn’t now,” said Linda Sleet, a retiree from Florida.
The AP-NORC poll was conducted May 1–5, 2025, with 1,175 U.S. adults.
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The Academy Awards nominations have been announced, with the crime drama Sinners leading the race securing a record 16 nominations ahead of the ceremony set for 15 March. The event, which honours the film industry’s top achievements over the past year, will be hosted by comedian Conan O'Brien.
A widening conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel has triggered escalating military strikes across the Middle East, disrupted shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz and raised concerns over global energy supplies. This live report tracks the latest developments.
Two Indian-flagged tankers, Shivalik and Nanda Devi, carrying 92,700 metric tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), are en route to India despite disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz caused by the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, the Indian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday (14 March).
A long-running investigation has suggested that the street artist known as Banksy may be legally named David Jones. A report indicates that Jones was previously known as Robin Gunningham, a name long associated with Banksy, before legally changing his name several years ago.
Israel and Iran continued to exchange strikes on Friday (13 March), as the U.S. and French militaries reported deaths in Iraq, and the U.N. launched a $325 million appeal to help Lebanon, where a seventh of the population have left their homes since fighting began.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued veiled threats to Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, and Hezbollah on Thursday (12 March), during his first press conference since the conflict with Iran began.
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Ayman Ghazali, a 41-year-old U.S. citizen born in Lebanon, crashed his truck into the hallway of a Detroit-area synagogue on Thursday (12 March) while children attended preschool. Security personnel shot him dead during the confrontation, and authorities said no one else was seriously injured.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday (14 March) that many countries are interested in purchasing Russian oil after the United States temporarily eased sanctions on certain exports.
An explosion lightly damaged a Jewish school in Amsterdam early on Saturday (14 March) in what the city’s mayor described as “a deliberate attack against the Jewish community.”
Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery and a key port in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region overnight (13-14 March), local authorities said, causing injuries and damage. In separate action, Russian air attacks on Ukrainian territory killed and wounded civilians near Kyiv, officials reported.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 13rd of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
North Korea fired what appeared to be a ballistic missile on Saturday (14 March), Japanese and South Korean officials said. The development comes amid the joint annual U.S.-South Korea "Freedom Shield" military drills and South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok's visit to Washington.
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