A new national poll from Quinnipiac University just delivered a devastating blow to congressional Democrats—and it’s not just coming from Republicans. A staggering 72% of voters now disapprove of how Democrats in Congress are handling their jobs. Only 19% give them a thumbs up. That’s not just bad—it’s the lowest approval rating Quinnipiac has ever recorded for the party in the poll’s 16-year history.

This latest plunge is just one more sign of the deepening crisis within the Democratic Party. Since losing the White House and Senate to Republicans last November, the left has been flailing to find its footing. The GOP not only reclaimed the presidency under Donald Trump, but also defended its narrow House majority and expanded support among key Democratic constituencies—Black, Hispanic, and younger voters.

Now, just four months into Trump’s second term, the numbers show a party in complete disarray.

Even among Democrats, dissatisfaction is growing. Just 39% of Democratic voters approve of how their own party’s lawmakers are performing in Congress, while 52% say they’re doing a poor job. That kind of intraparty disapproval is rare—and deadly heading into a volatile election year.

“The approval numbers for Democrats can be characterized as flat out terrible,” said Quinnipiac analyst Tim Malloy.

The growing frustration among Democrats isn’t just about Republicans pushing bold policies. Many on the left are turning on their own leaders, accusing them of being too weak to stand up to Trump’s sweeping second-term agenda. This includes high-profile liberal influencers, grassroots organizers, and even progressive lawmakers who say party leadership is too focused on compromise and not aggressive enough in the face of what they view as GOP overreach.

This erosion of confidence has sent the party’s overall image into a freefall. Multiple polls this year show the Democratic Party hitting new lows in favorability—even among demographics that used to be reliable allies.

The numbers aren’t great for Republicans either—only 33% of voters approve of how GOP lawmakers are doing in Congress, compared to 62% disapproval. But crucially, they still enjoy the support of their base. Over 77% of Republicans say they back the job their party’s congressional members are doing, with just 20% opposed. That kind of unity matters—especially when compared to Democrats’ fractured coalition.

President Trump, meanwhile, sits at 40% approval and 54% disapproval—a modest dip after a honeymoon period early in his second term. But unlike congressional Democrats, Trump still commands a fiercely loyal base that sees him as delivering results.

In fact, Trump’s July 4th signing of the GOP’s sweeping domestic package—the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”—was cheered by Republicans and mocked by Democrats, but the show of strength only solidified his image among voters who crave action over rhetoric.

With midterms fast approaching in 2026, Democrats are now staring down the kind of political headwinds that typically hit the party in power. Except this time, they’re not even in power—and they’re still losing ground.

If these trends continue, it could spell disaster for Democrats not just in the next election, but for their long-term viability as a national party. They’ve lost working-class voters. They’re bleeding young people. And now, even core progressives are starting to tune out.

As the GOP capitalizes on the momentum of regained power and deepening Democratic dysfunction, the question becomes: how low can the Democrats go—and can they recover before 2028? For now, the party of the left is in freefall, and the numbers don’t lie.