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Three recent developments indicate that Democrats already shaky political prospects are deteriorating further, and suggest that the party could be on track to experience a historic rout worse than 1994 or 2010 in the midterm elections.

First, the presidents approval rating which has historically been a harbinger of his partys midterm performance hit a new low this week: just one-third (35 percent) of registered voters approve of President Bidens overall performance, while a majority (56 percent) disapprove, according toQuinnipiac polling.

Importantly, Democrats have lost ground with two key segments of their 2020 coalition independents and Hispanics as only one-quarter of adults in each group approve of President Biden, while majorities disapprove.

Republicans also have an advantage in terms of preference for party control of Congress. Nearly one-half (46 percent) of registered voters prefer Republican control, while 41 percent prefer Democratic control. GOP control is also preferred by independents (40 percent-38 percent) and Hispanics (41 percent-38 percent).

To be sure, Democrats declining ratings can be attributed in large part to widespread economic pessimism, which is on par with 2009 levels bymost assessments.

Relatedly, the second development that bodes poorly for Democrats in November is the release of fresh economic data: inflation has hit a 41-year high of 8.6 percent annually, the average price for a gallon of gas is $5, and the stock market is tanking. Now, many economists are warning of an impending recession.

Of course, the stock market is not the economy and, notwithstanding inflationary pressures, the American economy is in fact strong in many respects, which Biden has repeatedly tried to underscore to the public.

But despite the administrations best efforts to highlight positive macroeconomic trends such as increased wages and historically low unemployment everyday Americans, who are witnessing significant market declines and struggling with rising costs, are not convinced.

Indeed, Bidens approval rating on his handling of the economy reached the lowest level of his presidency this week: only 28 percent ofAmericansapprove of Bidens handling of the economy, including just one-fifth of independents (21 percent) and Hispanics (20 percent).

While Democrats are working to shift the national conversation away from the economy and towards hot-button social issues that they have the upper hand on vis--vis public opinion namely, abortion rights in light of the Supreme Courts intention to overturn Roe v. Wade, and gun control following a string of mass shootings it is difficult to envision a scenario where these issues supplant the economy as the top midterm issue.

Nearly one-half (48 percent) of Americans cite economic issues including inflation (21 percent), the economy generally (19 percent) and gas prices (8 percent) as the single most important issue to their midterm vote, according to recent ABC Newspolling.

Comparatively, the same poll which was conducted following the mass shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde, and thus after the news broke about Roe v. Wade showed that gun violence (17 percent) and abortion (12 percent) are prioritized by a much smaller share of voters.

Though Democrats are hoping that the national focus on womens choice and gun control will help the party galvanize their base and make up ground in the midterms, polling unfortunately doesnt bear that out. Republicans currently maintain a 12-point voter enthusiasm advantage over Democrats, 43 percent to 31 percent, per a recent Economist/YouGovpoll.

Moreover, though the Democratic stance on gun control is more aligned with the general publics views, the renewed national focus on gun violence could end up hurting Democrats in the midterms, given the partys electoral vulnerabilities on the issue of crime.

While polling consistently shows that most voters are supportive of stricter gun laws, there is prevalent public concern about rising crime as well as broad dissatisfaction with Bidens and Democrats handling of crime, and even more specifically, of gun violence.

Only 38 percent ofAmericansapprove of the presidents handling of rising crime, while a majority (61 percent) disapprove. Further, just one-third (33 percent) ofthe publicapproves of how Biden is addressing gun violence, versus 59 percent who disapprove.

This widespread discontent with Democrats approach to crime brings us to the third key development of the week: the results of Californias primary elections held Tuesday, which saw a decisive rejection of progressive policies especially on criminal justice in one of the most liberal states in the country.

The recallof San Franciscos progressive district attorney, Chesa Boudin, was the strongest rebuke of progressive crime policies to date and underscores the challenges Democrats face with messaging on this issue going forward.

The results of theLos Angeles mayoral primaryare also somewhat troubling for Democrats. Democratic Rep. Karen Bass and billionaire real estate developer Rick Caruso, who was formerly a Republican, finished neck-and-neck, and are headed to a runoff election.

Though Bass has worked to moderate her positioning on crime by calling for a greater police presence in the city, Carusos stance runs decisively to the right of Basss. The closeness of this race ultimately indicates that Democrats will have a difficult time reframing the public narrative which ties their policies to rising crime rates ahead of the midterms, despite Bidens efforts to vocalize the Democratic establishments opposition to the defund the police movement.

Taken together, the American publics growing dissatisfaction with the Biden administration, increasing economic pessimism, and rejection of progressivism indicate that the Democratic Party could be on track to endure one of the most considerable midterm seat losses of any part in recent history.

Douglas E. Schoen is a political consultant who served as an adviser to former President Clinton and to the 2020 presidential campaign of Michael Bloomberg. He is the author of The End of Democracy? Russia and China on the Rise and America in Retreat. Zoe Young is vice president of Schoen Cooperman Research.

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Democrats could be on pace for a historic rout in November - The Hill