New polling reveals the major problems facing the future of US politics

The reelection of Donald Trump to the presidency upended politics in the United States. New polling from CNN and SSRS shows most Democrats think it's time for their party to change in the face of its lowest approval in more than three decades. 

According to the new polling, 58% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents believe it is time for the party to change or be completely reformed. This number was up from the 34% who signaled this sentiment just two years ago in 2022. 

On the other side of the political spectrum, Trump has become even more central to the idea of what it means to be a Republican. 

“Many of those aligned with the GOP view loyalty to Trump as central to their political identity,” CNN explained. “A 53% majority say that supporting Trump is a very important part of what being a Republican means to them.” 

In 2022, 38% of Republicans and Republican-leaning voters believed their party needed to change or be completely reformed. This figure dropped to 28% in 2025. However, it is important to point out that Democrats and Republicans are both unhappy with today's US politics. 

The CNN and SSRS survey revealed that there is a broader dissatisfaction with politics brewing in the country. 70% of US adults described themselves as dissatisfied, and 64% said they were frustrated, with the country today. 

“Only 23% of all registered voters say they’re satisfied with the influence people like them have on the political process, down from 38% in a poll taken last autumn — a decline that reflects rising dissatisfaction among voters in both parties,” CNN reported. 

Around four in ten Americans said they were angry while just 20% indicated that they were “optimistic, fired up, inspired or proud.” However, this wasn’t the only concern pollsters discovered regarding voter worries. 

CNN added that only about half of US adults (48%) were confident that elections in the country reflected the will of the people. This finding is rather concerning, but it also begs the question: What do Americans want from their politicians?

As previously pointed out, Democrats want to see big changes in their party according to the data. Some think the party is out of touch and unresponsive while others noted the Democrats needed new leadership and to push their policies more aggressively. 

“They are too nice,” one male respondent from Maryland told pollsters. “Republicans will do anything to implement their goals (while) Democrats cling to ‘norms.’ They need to become more aggressive in their approach, but not lie like the Republicans.”

“Despite all the good things the Democratic Party has done for the country and its citizens, they lost the election,” a female poll respondent from Arizona explained. “Democrats are horrible at messaging.”

On the Republican side, few want to see significant changes to the party. According to the data, 10% talked about Trump and MAGA as issues while 4% said they viewed the party as too extreme or right-wing, down from 10% in 2022. 

What Republicans really want seems to be more support for Trump. Many called on the party to “align themselves with policies that are not directly related to Trump” and focus on developing a potential successor. 

“Too many so-called Republicans do not support President Trump for all he has been through and done for the country in the past 9 years,” one Tennessee poll respondent noted. 

How this new data should be interpreted is difficult to say. It was clear from the moment Trump was reelected that Democrats would seek answers regarding what led to his win. However, whether or not the party will change to confront the unity of the Republican Party has yet to be seen. 

Never miss a story! Click here to follow The Daily Digest.