Democrats frustration with their party sees sharp increase, poll shows

Democrats are increasingly losing faith in their party and its leaders — far outpacing Republicans who have doubts about the GOP, according to Pew Research Center data collected before the government shutdown.

The big picture: Democrats' party frustration has risen sharply in recent years, while Republicans' dissatisfaction has eased, underscoring levels of party confidence a year before the 2026 midterm elections. • 67% of Democrats say they're frustrated with their party, up from about half in Pew polls from 2021 and 2019. Per the poll, most of the aggravation stems from a belief that congressional Democrats haven't pushed back enough against the Trump administration. • Only 40% of Republicans say they're frustrated with their party, down from 2021 levels — and 69% even say the GOP