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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NATO allies have pledged to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, a major increase aimed at countering long-term threats, particularly from Russia and terrorism.
Greek authorities have arrested a Georgian woman suspected of accidentally causing one of the wildfires devastating the island of Chios by discarding a cigarette, amid ongoing efforts to control the fires.
NATO has confirmed that its 2026 summit will be hosted by Türkiye, with Albania set to host the following summit in 2027, according to the final declaration from the summit in The Hague.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague to discuss key regional and global issues.
NATO allies have pledged to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, a major increase aimed at countering long-term threats, particularly from Russia and terrorism.
The Kremlin on Wednesday said Tehran’s decision to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is a "direct" result of the recent Israeli and US strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran.
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Wizz Air has suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv, Israel, and its European services to Amman, Jordan, effective immediately until 15 September due to escalating situation in the Middle East. Also, the air carrier temporarily suspended its flights between Astana, Kazakhstan, and Abu Dhabi.
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U.S. mortgage interest rates saw slight changes last week as applications for refinancing increased, even though home purchase applications dipped.
Norway is stepping up military support for Ukraine with a $640 million package aimed at boosting the country's drone capabilities, both on the battlefield and for infrastructure protection.
Greek authorities have arrested a Georgian woman suspected of accidentally causing one of the wildfires devastating the island of Chios by discarding a cigarette, amid ongoing efforts to control the fires.
NATO has confirmed that its 2026 summit will be hosted by Türkiye, with Albania set to host the following summit in 2027, according to the final declaration from the summit in The Hague.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague to discuss key regional and global issues.
Greek authorities have arrested a Georgian woman suspected of accidentally causing one of the wildfires devastating the island of Chios by discarding a cigarette, amid ongoing efforts to control the fires.
NATO has confirmed that its 2026 summit will be hosted by Türkiye, with Albania set to host the following summit in 2027, according to the final declaration from the summit in The Hague.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague to discuss key regional and global issues.
NATO allies have pledged to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, a major increase aimed at countering long-term threats, particularly from Russia and terrorism.
The Kremlin on Wednesday said Tehran’s decision to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is a "direct" result of the recent Israeli and US strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran.
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