The Democratic Party is facing a serious crisis of confidence among voters, according to newly revealed internal polling. The numbers, first reported by Politico’s Elena Schneider, show a party struggling to connect with the very people it claims to represent—especially in key battleground districts that will determine control of the House of Representatives.
Schneider’s reporting highlights a damning perception problem: a majority of voters believe Democrats are not focused on helping people like them. Instead, many see the party as prioritizing “others” over the concerns of working-class Americans. Among independents, this divide is even more pronounced, with just 27% believing Democrats are working for them, while a significant 55% say Democrats are more focused elsewhere.
These findings, based on polling from Navigator Research, will be presented to House Democrats at their Issues Conference in Leesburg, Virginia. Democrat pollster Molly Murphy summed up the challenge bluntly: “The Democratic brand is still not where it needs to be in terms of core trust and understanding people’s challenges.” She acknowledged that while some voters remain critical of Trump, that dissatisfaction has not translated into renewed trust in the Democratic Party. “The trust has to be earned,” Murphy admitted.
Other numbers in the survey reinforce this stark reality. A majority of voters—56%—believe Democrats do not represent the working class. Even worse, when it comes to values that traditionally resonate with blue-collar Americans, the party is floundering:
- Only 42% say Democrats share their values.
- Just 39% believe Democrats value work.
- Only 44% think Democrats respect work.
- A mere 39% say Democrats have the right priorities as a party.
This is a deeply troubling picture for a party that once prided itself on being the champion of working-class Americans.
Perhaps most alarming for Democrats is that they are losing ground on the economy, a top issue for voters. According to the Navigator survey, voters in 62 competitive House districts trust Republicans more than Democrats on economic issues. The numbers are clear:
- Republicans lead Democrats by 5 points (46%-41%) on handling the economy.
- On inflation, Republicans hold a 7-point advantage (44%-37%).
In other words, even as Americans grapple with financial uncertainty, rising costs, and economic anxiety, they are not turning to Democrats for solutions. Instead, Republicans are winning the argument on the issues that matter most.