Democrats’ historic unfavourability reflects setbacks with Asian American voters

A staggering 63% of voters now hold an unfavorable view of the Democratic Party, according to a new Wall Street Journal poll — the highest share in the publication’s surveys dating back to 1990.

Key findings: The latest poll, conducted from July 16-20, shows Democrats trailing Republicans on nearly every major issue, signaling a profound erosion of the party’s brand ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Only 33% of the respondents view Democrats favorably, while 8% see them “very favorably” compared to 19% for the GOP.

Despite a recent Gallup poll showing that most Americans now see immigrants as beneficial to the country, the respondents trust Republicans more on immigration by 17 points and illegal immigration by 24 points, even while disapproving of President Donald Trump’s handling of the economy and foreign policy. Democrats lead only on healthcare and vaccine policy among the 10 issues tested.

Zoom in: The Democratic struggle particularly resonates within the Asian American community, where political allegiances have shifted dramatically in recent cycles. The shift began long before Trump’s White House comeback, with Asian voters moving toward Republican candidates since 2020. While 42% of Asian Americans identified as Democrats (compared to 22% as Republicans) last July, Trump’s support among the group rose to 38% in 2024, up from 34% in 2020. Meanwhile, former Vice President Kamala Harris received 56% versus former President Joe Biden’s 61% four years earlier.

The community’s political volatility became stark when comparing pre-election polling, where Harris commanded a 38-point lead in September 2024, to post-inauguration sentiment, with 71% of Asian American adults viewing Trump unfavorably in a June 2025 poll, up sharply from 60% in December 2024. Notably, independent Asian voters showed the steepest decline, with unfavorable views jumping about 20 percentage points to nearly 70%.

Why this matters: For Asian Americans — the nation’s fastest-growing group of eligible voters — the Democratic Party’s credibility crisis poses significant implications for representation and policy priorities. With the majority of the community’s votes having backed Harris, the frustration may reflect disappointment in the party’s approach rather than abandonment of Democratic values.

In the past, the shift toward Republicans has been attributed partly to frustrations with Democratic policies on issues such as merit-based school admissions, along with Republican anti-crime messaging resonating amid rising anti-Asian hate. The party’s current brand weakness may be undermining their capacity to champion Asian American interests against discriminatory policies, even when most of the community opposes Trump.