Young Americans Lose Faith in Congressional Democrats, Harvard Poll Reveals

Young Americans are not feeling the love for Capitol Hill's Democrats, according to a fresh Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics poll. Approval for Democrats in Congress among those aged 18-29 has taken a nosedive, shrinking to just 23%—less than one in four—down from a much rosier 42% back in 2017 when Trump first took office.

Meanwhile, Congressional Republicans' numbers have barely budged, inching up from 28% to 29% over the same period. President Trump, who’s marking 100 days into his second round in the White House, is holding steady with a 31% approval rating among young Americans—practically a déjà vu of his ratings from his earlier term.

The poll's findings come at a rough time for Democrats. Their leadership in Congress recently hit a record-low 25% confidence rating in a separate Gallup poll, sinking nine points beneath last year's previous low. The biggest hit came from within: Gallup found a 41-point drop in confidence among Democrats themselves.

Adding salt to the wound, national polls from Quinnipiac, CNN, and NBC News have all logged the Democratic Party’s favorability at all-time lows. After losing the White House and Senate last November—and barely holding the House—Democrats are finding their traditional base, including young people, Black and Hispanic voters, slipping away to Republicans.

The mood among Democrats is understandably sour. Many in the party’s base are disappointed, feeling congressional leaders haven’t been bold or loud enough in countering President Trump’s aggressive return—especially with his sweeping federal cuts and shake-ups. The frustration isn’t just directed at the opposition, but inward as well.

Overall, young Americans are not optimistic about the country’s direction. Only 15% think the U.S. is heading the right way, while a majority—51%—believe things are off track. When asked to compare Trump’s current term with Biden’s, just 25% said things are better now under Trump, while 41% said the country was better off under Biden. The rest? Either can’t decide or think nothing’s changed.

It seems the nation's youngest voters are still searching for a political home that can actually deliver on its promises—maybe Congress should try TikTok next?