A year out from the 2026 midterm elections, a new Pew Research Center survey reveals widespread dissatisfaction with both the Republican and Democratic parties, with a notable surge in frustration among Democrats regarding their own party’s performance.
Widespread Discontent with Both Major Parties
Americans hold bleak views on the honesty and governing ethics of both major political parties.
The survey of 3,445 U.S. adults, conducted in late September 2025, found that both parties are viewed by majorities as too extreme and not governing honestly:
- Honesty and Ethics: Only 39% of Americans describe the Republican Party as governing ethically and honestly, and just 42% say this about the Democratic Party.
- Extremism: Majorities view both parties as too extreme, with 61% applying this label to the GOP and 57% to the Democratic Party.
- Hope vs. Anger: Majorities are frustrated with both parties, and about half say each makes them angry. Only 36% say the Republican Party makes them feel hopeful, with even fewer (28%) saying this about the Democrats.
Democrats’ Frustration with Their Own Party Sharply Rises
While frustration is high across the board, it has risen sharply among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, who are frustrated with the GOP and their own party in particular:
- Democratic Frustration: 67% of Democrats say their own party makes them feel frustrated, a figure far higher than the roughly half who said this in 2021 and 2019.
- Main Reason for Democratic Frustration: The dominant pre-shutdown response of frustrated Democrats (41%) is that the party has not pushed back hard enough against the Trump administration.
- Republican Frustration: In contrast, Republican frustration with the GOP is lower than in 2021, at 40%. In fact, 69% of Republicans now say the party makes them feel hopeful.
Issue Landscape Shows Shifts in Party Advantage
The survey explored public perceptions of the parties on key policy issues, revealing where each holds an advantage:
| Issue | GOP Advantage | Democratic Advantage | Key Finding |
| Crime | +17 pts (45% GOP vs. 28% Dem) | – | A larger GOP edge than two years ago. |
| Immigration | +9 pts (44% GOP vs. 35% Dem) | – | Advantage essentially unchanged since 2023. |
| Economy | +3 pts (38% GOP vs. 35% Dem) | – | The GOP’s advantage has largely eroded from a 12-point lead two years ago. |
| Health Care, Environment/Climate, Abortion, Race | – | Advantage held by Democrats | The Democratic Party continues to hold an advantage on these issues. |
| LGBT Issues | – | +2 pts (37% Dem vs. 35% GOP) | Americans are now about equally likely to agree with both parties, a shift from the Democrats’ 8-point edge in 2023. |
Other Key Findings
- Neither Party Represents Many: About a quarter of Americans (25%) say neither party represents their interests particularly well. Overall, 42% say the Republican Party represents people like them at least somewhat well, and 40% say this about the Democratic Party.
- Foreign Policy Agreement Low: Large shares of Americans agree with neither party on the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza (46%) and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (36%).
- Compromise Expectations: Wide majorities of both Democrats (78%) and Republicans (71%) say it’s very important for the other party’s officials to compromise with their party. However, fewer than half in either coalition (46% of Democrats, 39% of Republicans) place the same level of importance on their own party’s officials compromising.
The results paint a picture of a disaffected electorate heading into the 2026 midterms, with both parties struggling to inspire confidence or hope among the American public.
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The survey was conducted by the Pew Research Center among 3,445 U.S. adults from Sept. 22 to 28, 2025.
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