Democrats have hit their lowest favorable rating in recorded polling this month, while Republicans are viewed slightly more positively for the first time in a decade, according to a new Fox News survey. Yet, despite the decline, voters say they would still back Democratic candidates over Republicans if the 2026 congressional elections were held today.
The Fox News poll, released Friday, shows 44% of voters have a favorable view of the Republican Party and 54% an unfavorable one — a net rating of -10. Democrats, however, fare even worse, with a 41% favorable and 56% unfavorable split, resulting in a -15 net rating.
This marks a reversal from last summer when Republicans had a -14 point rating compared to Democrats’ -6. The last time Republicans were viewed more favorably than Democrats was back in April 2014, but only by a single point.
A closer look shows that the drop in Democratic favorability stems largely from within the party itself. Last summer, 87% of self-identified Democrats had a favorable view of their party; today, that number has dropped to 77%. Meanwhile, Republican loyalty has remained steady, increasing slightly from 83% favorable views in 2024 to 85% now.
“The higher favorable rating for Republicans is entirely because Democrats feel less favorable about their own party than Republicans do about theirs,” said Democratic pollster Chris Anderson, who conducts the Fox News surveys alongside Republican Daron Shaw. “But this doesn’t automatically translate into a Republican advantage for 2026.”
When asked how they would vote if the midterms were held today, 49% of voters said they would back the Democratic candidate in their district, compared to 42% for the Republican — a 7-point lead for Democrats. This mirrors the dynamics seen during President Trump’s first midterms in 2017.
Democrats’ advantage is bolstered by stronger loyalty among their base, support from Independents by a 2-to-1 margin (40% Democrat vs. 18% Republican), and key demographic groups such as Black voters (68%), voters under 30 (60%), and college-educated women (59%).
Independents still view both major parties negatively but are more sour on Republicans (72% unfavorable) than Democrats (66% unfavorable). Additionally, a significant portion — 41% — of Independents remain unsure about how they will vote in 2026.
Republican support remains strongest among White evangelical Christians (66%), White men without a college degree (54%), and rural voters (50%). However, enthusiasm appears to lag compared to Democrats: fewer 2024 Trump supporters (86%) back their GOP candidates than 2024 Harris supporters (91%) back Democrats.
“The congressional ballot results aren’t surprising,” Shaw explained. “The out-party usually performs better during a president’s first midterm elections — Republicans surged in 2010 and 2022, Democrats in 2018. For Republicans to succeed again, they’ll need to either hold onto some Democratic and Independent voters from 2024 or energize their base without Trump on the ballot.”
The poll also reveals some voter regret. While 85% of voters overall say they are satisfied with their 2024 vote choice, satisfaction among Trump voters has dipped — from 92% four years ago to 89% today. By contrast, 90% of 2024 Harris voters remain satisfied.
Young Voters Drift Further from the GOP
Young voters under 30, a pivotal group in recent elections, are showing stronger favorability toward Democrats. According to the survey, 50% view the Democratic Party favorably compared to 48% unfavorably — a reversal from last summer’s negative margin.
The Republican Party, however, remains deeply unpopular among young voters, with a 38% favorable vs. 58% unfavorable rating. GOP congressional candidates are underperforming with this group compared to Trump’s 2024 performance — just 33% now back Republicans, down from 47% who supported Trump.
“The bad news for Republicans is the age gap is back,” Shaw said. “The good news is young voters are notoriously volatile — they often don’t turn out in large numbers for midterms and are heavily influenced by short-term issues.”
About the Survey:
The Fox News poll was conducted April 18–21, 2025, by Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R). The survey included interviews with 1,104 registered voters via landline, cellphone, and online, with a margin of error of ±3 percentage points.