Partisanship & Issues

During their terms as Speaker of the House, both Republican leader John Boehner and Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi experienced similar trajectories in their favorability ratings.

More than a year ahead of the 2014 congressional elections, Democrats have a six-point edge when it comes to which party voters would support in their districts.

Survey Report The Tea Party is less popular than ever, with even many Republicans now viewing the movement negatively. Overall, nearly half of the public (49%) has an unfavorable opinion of the Tea Party, while 30% have a favorable opinion. The balance of opinion toward the Tea Party has turned more negative since June, when […]

The share of voters who say they don’t want to see their own representative re-elected is high as it’s been in two decades.

Survey Report With just two days to go before an Oct. 17 deadline to raise the nation’s debt limit, 51% of the public views a rise in the nation’s debt limit as “absolutely essential” in order to avoid an economic crisis, while 36% think the country can go past the deadline without major problems. Public […]

Sentiment about GOP leaders has shifted among the Republican rank-and-file since last month, with Tea party Republican more approving of the leaders, while non-Tea Party Republicans are less approving.

Just 18% of Republicans believe their leaders are paying too much attention to the Tea Party.

As the government faces its first shutdown since 1995-1996, the standoff between the Obama administration and Republicans over the federal budget is occurring in a different public opinion environment than when President Bill Clinton faced off with the GOP-controlled House.

The 1995-1996 government shutdowns didn’t help the GOP’s image, but the party had lost support among the public well before they happened.

The share of Tea Party Republicans who say the economic effect of a government shutdown will be major is 21 points lower than others in the GOP.