Poll Shows Deep Polarization, Little Faith in Congress at America’s 250th

A growing sense of political division, paired with declining confidence in governing institutions, is shaping how Americans view their democracy. The latest RealClear Opinion Research/Unite America poll finds voters increasingly skeptical that the political system is capable of addressing the issues they consider most important or serving the needs of the people.

The survey, conducted from January 9-11 among 1,500 registered voters, found that 87% of respondents are concerned about political division in the United States, with just 13% saying they are not.

Voters are clear about where they believe this division comes from. Eighty-four percent say politicians contribute to political division, 81% say the news media play a role, and 82% point to social media. These numbers indicate that Americans see polarization as something driven by people and institutions at the top, not necessarily from differences on specific policy issues.

The problems of polarization are compounded by a lack of representation in Congress. Only 29% of voters say Congress represents the American people somewhat or very well, and 66% say that Congress doesn’t represent them well. Congress’ approval rating is even more dismal, with only 22.3% approving and 68% disapproving in the RealClearPolitics Average. Congress is no longer seen as a forum where competing interests are argued and resolved, as the founders intended, but as an institution increasingly detached from the public it serves.

Disillusionment with Congress intensifies with age. Among voters aged 18 to 29, 39% say Congress represents the American people well, while 52% say it does not. Among voters 70 and older, just 21% say Congress represents them well, while 78% say it does not. Rather than mellowing with time, dissatisfaction appears to deepen across generations, suggesting repeated exposure to congressional dysfunction reinforces skepticism rather than softening it.

That skepticism is reinforced by voters’ assessments of Congress’ performance on substantive issues. Seven in 10 voters say Congress is not effectively addressing America’s biggest problems, including the cost of living, immigration, and healthcare. Only 20% believe Congress is handling those issues effectively.

Despite this frustration, voters have not disengaged from the political process entirely. Sixty-one percent say their vote in the 2026 general election matters “a great deal,” and another 19% say it matters a good amount. The combination of high civic importance and low institutional confidence points to a growing disconnect: Americans still believe democracy matters, but increasingly doubt that Congress is translating democratic participation into results.

Voters also perceive that polarization itself is undermining the degree to which the parties represent the views of the people. A majority, 53%, believe political candidates primarily play to the base of their party, while just 34% think candidates try to appeal to a majority of voters they would represent. This causes 51% to say the Republican Party is too conservative, 48% to say the Democratic Party is too liberal, while only 37% and 34% say the parties are about right in their stances.

Taken together, these problems lead to the majority, 53%, classifying the state of United States democracy as weak, while only 40% said it is strong. A similar number are discontent with the president, with Trump at a 40% approval in the poll, and 50% disapproving.

While such discontent with the system as a whole persists, America is likely to continue to see a constant switch back and forth between the parties. After a few years of constant negative approval under the first Trump administration, Biden was elected, and after a few years of constant negative approval under the Biden administration, Trump was again elected. In 2026, it looks like this pattern will continue, with Democrats likely to win the midterms, currently leading by 4.5 points in the Generic Congressional Vote.