The impeachment of President Trump didn’t boost approval ratings for congressional Democrats.
According to a Gallup poll released Tuesday, approval for Republicans in Congress surpassed that of their Democratic colleagues, with the parties earning 40% approval and 35% approval, respectively. Republicans had trailed Democrats in this poll for several years, and it has been more than 15 years since either party has exceeded 50% approval.
Impeachment seems to have played a role in Republicans surpassing Democrats in the poll. Republicans gained 6 percentage points in their approval ratings from October to February while Democrats lost 3 percentage points, gaining 5 percentage points in their disapproval polling. Trump was impeached in the Democratic-controlled House in December and acquitted by the Republican-controlled Senate in February.
Democrats have a historically higher approval rating in the poll. Since the poll began in 1999, they hold an average 41% approval — Republicans have an average 35% approval. Part of the uptick for Republicans came from an increase in approval from members of their own party. Since October, Republican respondents’ approval of GOP lawmakers jumped 13 percentage points. Democratic respondents’ approval of congressional Democrats did not change.
Congressional Republicans earn higher approval ratings than Democrats after impeachment: Poll
Impeachment seems to have played a role in Republicans surpassing Democrats in the poll.
