CNN Poll: Nearly seven in 10 judge Congress a failure so far – CNN
Both Democrats and Republicans in Congress have earned the ire of most Americans, according to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS, with nearly seven in 10 (68%) judging the Republican Congress a failure so far after last month's repeal and replace plan died in the Senate.
Approval of the current Republican leaders in Congress has dropped from 39% in January to just 24% now. Seven in 10 say they disapprove of Republican leaders in the legislature. More broadly, only about a quarter of all Americans (24%) judge the Republican Congress a success so far. President Trump gets the approval of 38% of Americans in the CNN poll.
Republicans themselves are evenly split 44% to 44% on whether the GOP-led Congress has been a success or failure so far. Even three quarters of people who approve of Trump say they disapprove of Congress (76%) and a plurality (48%) says the GOP-led legislature has been a failure.
Still, only one in three Americans (34%) say they approve of Democratic leaders in Congress, while six in 10 (59%) disapprove.
Views among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents of their party's congressional leadership has plummeted over the last eight months, falling from 75% approval in January to just 39% now. Democrats' and Democratic-leaning independents' views of their party's leadership remains basically unchanged at 50% today.
And three quarters of Americans say they disapprove of how Congress is handling its job; only 20% of Americans approve, matching this year's low in January. That figure holds across party lines, with only about one in five on each side saying they approve of Congress's work so far. Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents are more positive about their leaders in Congress (50% approve) than are Republicans and GOP-leaning independents about their leaders (39% approve).
Congress left for its August recess without passing any sweeping, comprehensive legislation, failing in its attempt to pass something on health care and leaving tax reform on the docket. A vote on the debt ceiling looms this fall.
A plurality of Americans (38%) say disagreement among Republicans in Congress is the main reason for the lack of major legislation so far this term, while a quarter each blame a lack of leadership from President Trump (26%) and opposition from Democrats (25%).
Among Republicans only, a slim majority (51%) cast the blame on Democrats for the lack of new legislation vs. a third (32%) who say disagreement from Republicans is to blame. Only 8% point the blame at President Trump.
Moving forward, a majority of all Americans (56%) says Republicans should work with Democrats to make changes to current health care policy. The rest are divided: One in five say the GOP should both stop trying to repeal Obamacare completely (21%) and the same share say Republicans should keep trying to repeal it anyway (21%). Republicans themselves are split on this question: 45% say GOP leaders should continue trying to repeal Obamacare on their own, 42% that they should work with Democrats to make changes.
Only 14% of Americans now say it's very likely that Trump and the Republicans will be able to pass repeal and replace legislation, down from 18% in July before the failure of the most recent effort to repeal and replace the law. Just 28% of Republicans and 27% of Trump approvers say it's very likely. A majority (56%) say it's not likely that Republicans will be successful in passing their own health care bill, the first time that figure has topped 50% in CNN polling.
Still, just a third (33%) say Obamacare should be repealed completely, regardless of whether it is replaced. Among those who oppose repeal, more say the law needs minor changes than a major overhaul, while just 6% of all Americans say it should be left as is.
When asked about the 2010 health care law, a slim majority of Americans (51%) say they oppose the legislation vs. 42% of Americans who favor the bill. That's a return to the level of support seen in May 2015. But when the question was posed as to whether they support "Obamacare" -- the colloquial term for the Affordable Care Act -- support for the law is higher. Half favor the law vs. 46% who oppose it.
Nearly six in 10 say they favor a national health insurance program, even if it means higher taxes (58%). That's down slightly from ten years ago, before the passage of the ACA, when 64% supported the idea. Still, eight in 10 Democrats (81%) say they support the idea.
A quarter of Americans, a plurality, (24%) say health care is the most important issue facing the country today. One in seven (15%) focus on the economy, 11% say immigration, 8% say foreign policy and 8% name Donald Trump. Less than 5% name each of several other issues, like the environment, civil rights, government spending, education and other issues.
Six in 10 women back Democrats for Congress in 2018, while men back Republicans by a slim 5-point margin. Independents favor Democrats by 9 points, 46% to 37%. Democrats have been optimistic that Trump's unpopularity might spark a wave election in 2018, but the electoral map is unfriendly so far and Republicans have held seats in tight special elections.
Democrats lead a generic Congressional ballot among all Americans by 11 points, 51% to 40%. Still, midterm electorates typically lean more Republican than all Americans. Democrats lead registered voters by a similar 51% to 42%.
CNN's Jennifer Agiesta contributed to this report.
Follow this link:
CNN Poll: Nearly seven in 10 judge Congress a failure so far - CNN
- Republicans cant stop doing the one thing they should fear most - vox.com - February 2nd, 2026 [February 2nd, 2026]
- Texas loss delivers stark warning to Republicans in critical election year - BBC - February 2nd, 2026 [February 2nd, 2026]
- Five Reasons Republicans Are Worried About This Texas State Senate Race - The Wall Street Journal - February 2nd, 2026 [February 2nd, 2026]
- With an ACA fix uncertain in the Senate, Republicans replay old health care fights - NPR - February 2nd, 2026 [February 2nd, 2026]
- Texas Republicans shift messaging around ICE tactics amid election-year risks - Houston Public Media - February 2nd, 2026 [February 2nd, 2026]
- Trump urges House Republicans, Democrats to work together to end shutdown - The Hill - February 2nd, 2026 [February 2nd, 2026]
- Why some Republicans rediscovered their love of court packing - MS NOW - February 2nd, 2026 [February 2nd, 2026]
- Trumps Remarks That Republicans Should Take Over Voting Raises Concerns - Newsweek - February 2nd, 2026 [February 2nd, 2026]
- House Republicans rake in funds as they seek to stave off midterm headwinds - Politico - February 2nd, 2026 [February 2nd, 2026]
- How Republicans are responding to a Democrat winning a Texas election - Newsweek - February 2nd, 2026 [February 2nd, 2026]
- Texas bruising sends Republicans a message theyd better take to heart - New York Post - February 2nd, 2026 [February 2nd, 2026]
- Republicans play a numbers game in the House, and the number of the moment is 53 - Maryland Matters - February 2nd, 2026 [February 2nd, 2026]
- Senate Republicans try to regain footing on immigration after Minneapolis blowback - The Hill - February 2nd, 2026 [February 2nd, 2026]
- Are Republicans Headed for Texas-Sized Trouble This Fall? - FITSNews - February 2nd, 2026 [February 2nd, 2026]
- Johnson: Republicans OPEN To ICE Reforms As DHS Funding Feud Fuels Government Shutdown | TRENDING - NEWS10 ABC - February 2nd, 2026 [February 2nd, 2026]
- Republicans Struggle to Respond to Shooting, Reflecting Political Peril - The New York Times - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Disturbed and deeply concerning: Even Republicans want answers on the Minneapolis shooting - MS NOW - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Pence And Other Republicans Break With Trump Over Pretti Death: Deeply Troubling - Forbes - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Chaos, Candidates, and the Fight for Texas Republicans - houstonpublicmedia.org - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Morrow County Republicans call on Rep. Greg Smith to resign over ethics - salemreporter.com - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Republicans Wont Split the DHS Funding Bill as a Partial Shutdown Grows Likelier - NOTUS News of the United States - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Some Republicans call for investigation after fatal shooting in Minneapolis - mprnews.org - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Republicans appeal decision that threw out NYC's only GOP-controlled House district - sfchronicle.com - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Why Is the Press Treating Republicans Like Toddlers After Their Agents Killed an American Nurse? - Zeteo | Substack - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Why Republicans invented the myth of voter fraud to justify laws that keep American citizens from voting - milwaukeeindependent.com - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- ICE killings a watershed moment: Trump, Republicans risk breaking with the American people - France 24 - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Republicans Ignore Democrats Demands on DHS Funding - NOTUS News of the United States - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- More Republicans call for investigation after Minneapolis shooting as it happened - The Guardian - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Native Americans Are Getting Swept Up by ICE; Republicans Say There Will be Mistakes - oklahomawatch.org - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Republicans appeal decision that threw out NYC's only GOP-controlled House district - lufkindailynews.com - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Are Republicans Growing a Little Uneasy About the ICE Raids? - The New York Times - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Republicans move forward with plans for a midterm convention featuring Trump - CNN - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Johnson warns House Republicans to stay healthy as GOP majority shrinks to the edge - Fox News - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Georgia Republicans are Putting Themselves on the Path to Income Tax Elimination - Americans for Tax Reform - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Democrats are crushing Republicans in this new poll, and Trumps approval numbers tell the whole story - oregonlive.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- This Week, Republicans Showed Us Who Theyre Really Working For: Anti-Abortion Extremists - Reproductive Freedom for All - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Republicans narrowly fend off bid to limit Trump on Venezuela - Politico - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Republicans fuss over name calling while ICE wreaks havoc - mainebeacon.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Assembly Republicans approve stewardship reauthorization, with less money and more oversight - wpr.org - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Republicans tried to snag Jack Smith on technicalities. But they didnt engage with the facts. - Politico - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- House Republicans tax cuts, election reform, and more - alohastatedaily.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Michigan House Republicans threaten judicial funding over proposed court rule on ICE arrests - michiganadvance.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Republicans holding midterm convention this year | Campaign News | 2news.com - 2news.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Maine Republicans call for investigation into DHHS over claims of MaineCare fraud - wgme.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Tennessee Republicans want a Houston-style takeover of Memphis schools. What does that mean? - Chalkbeat - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Louisville Republicans hope to gain Metro Council majority for the first time - lpm.org - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Jack Smith to defend Trump investigations to House Republicans - opb.org - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Democrats leave Jack Smith hearing thrilled and frankly stunned Republicans let him testify - MS NOW - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- House Republicans vote to lift 20-year ban on mining near pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Area - wcax.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- A Better Wisconsin Together: Wisconsin Republicans couldve helped lower your property taxes this week. They didnt. - wispolitics.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Why Are Republicans in Congress Sticking With Trump on Greenland? The Numbers Tell the Story. - Cook Political Report - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Opinion | Brett Kavanaugh reminds Republicans: What goes around comes around - The Washington Post - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Video Republicans cut Greenland-shaped cake with American flag at Kennedy Center party - ABC News - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Republicans will be hard-pressed to pass Trumps Great Healthcare Plan - Politico - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- State officials say Republicans SNAP changes are running the program into the ground - signalohio.org - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- More than 60 West Texas Republicans endorse Cornyn for reelection - oaoa.com - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Republicans Cut Into Greenland Cake in Shocking Kennedy Center Party - The New Republic - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- SHOT/CHASER/LIME: Shocker - Big Pharma and Republicans Lied About the Inflation Reduction Act - Protect Our Care - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- ICE Debate Wont Tank Homeland Funding Bill, Republicans Say - NOTUS News of the United States - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Iowa Republicans move to expand gender, sexuality instruction ban to high schools - thegazette.com - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Republicans took control of education. Can Democrats take it back? - The Washington Post - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Republicans' Top Senate Recruit in Minnesota Says There Is Room for Her Pro-Choice Politics - NOTUS News of the United States - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Dumbest thing Ive ever heard: Republicans amp up their resistance to Trumps Greenland push - Politico - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- House Republicans push to hold Clintons in contempt of Congress over the Epstein probe - news9.com - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- House Republicans begin push to hold the Clintons in contempt of Congress over the Epstein probe - wbbjtv.com - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- House Republicans begin push to hold the Clintons in contempt of Congress over the Epstein probe - wxxv25.com - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- This Is Trumps Dark Threat to Republicans: Wolff - The Daily Beast - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- House Republicans begin push to hold the Clintons in contempt of Congress over the Epstein probe - king5.com - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- The issues that are causing Republicans to break with Trump - MS NOW - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Megabill 2.0? These House Republicans have some ideas. - Politico - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- The Republicans Breaking Ranks With Trump Over Powell Investigation: We Dont Need It - Time Magazine - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Republicans vow to hold Bill Clinton in contempt as he skips Epstein testimony - BBC - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Trump and the Republicans Struggle to Stay on Economic Message - Bloomberg.com - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Republicans Punt on a DHS Funding Fight with Democrats After Minnesota ICE Shooting - NOTUS News of the United States - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Missouri Republicans Admit They Skewed Ballot Language to Protect a Rigged Map - Independent Voter News - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Kentucky Republicans push to eliminate income tax as Democrats propose taxing the wealthy - WDRB - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Clintons refuse to testify in Epstein investigation, Republicans seek to hold them in contempt - localnewslive.com - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Republicans are speaking out on behalf of the Fed. Not Banking Chair Tim Scott. - Politico - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Ohio Democratic U.S. reps joined by three Ohio Republicans to restore Affordable Care Act subsidies - Ohio Capital Journal - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Clintons refuse to testify in House Epstein probe as Republicans threaten contempt proceedings - WTOP - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]