U.S. public sentiment shows declining views on democracy and economy

Recent polling indicates growing dissatisfaction among Americans regarding the state of democracy and the national economy. A Gallup survey of 23,000 adults found that 56 percent of U.S. respondents believe democracy is performing poorly at the national level, compared to only 19 percent who view it positively. This represents an increase in pessimism from the previous year, driven largely by a decline in positive sentiment among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents.

Separately, an AP-KFF poll of over 2,000 rural voters reveals significant economic anxiety. Approximately half of rural voters believe the economy is worse now than during Donald Trump’s previous term, citing the rising costs of groceries, gas, and healthcare as primary concerns. While about half of these voters still approve of Trump’s overall job performance, only 4 in 10 approve of his handling of the economy.