Only 6% of Americans approve of GOP leader Mitch McConnell, marking a new low
Senate Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky remains the least popular politician in the country, according to a new poll out Monday.
A Monmouth survey of more than 800 adults 18 and older indicates that 60 percent of respondents disapprove of the GOP Senate chief’s job performance. Only 6 percent of respondents said they approve of it. McConnell earned the lowest overall approval rating among congressional leadership and “is the only leader to receive a net negative score from his fellow partisans.” Just 10 percent of Republicans said they approve of his performance, and 41 percent said they felt otherwise.
The Monmouth University survey also found President Joe Biden’s approval rating at an “all-time low” with “particularly poor marks for his handling of immigration and inflation.”
“Only 3 in 10 Americans say the incumbent is giving enough attention to the issues most important to them, which is worse than for his predecessor,” Monmouth reported.
The poll, conducted between Nov. 30 and Dec. 4 with a 4.8 percent margin of error, means McConnell’s approval could be as low as 1 percent.
The survey’s findings corroborate similar results from previous polls highlighting McConnell’s unpopularity. According to RealClearPolitics’ aggregate of favorability ratings for both Republicans and Democrats, McConnell has remained the most unpopular political leader in the country for years. As of writing, the Republican Senate leader suffers a nearly -40 percent approval rating in the RealClear tracker. Vice President Kamala Harris follows with a net-negative approval rating of nearly -20 percent, and Biden’s approval rating is nearly -17 percent. President Donald Trump, whom former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley claimed in August was the most “disliked politician in all of America,” has about a -16 percent approval rating in the RealClear aggregate.
[RELATED:[RELATED:Nikki Haley Says Trump Is The Most ‘Disliked Politician’ In America, Polling Shows It’s Mitch McConnell]
RealClearPolitics’ popularity tracker has yet to be updated to include rankings for Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana.
McConnell’s low approval ratings reflect a Republican Senate chief unpopular both with Democrat opponents and grassroots conservatives in the Kentucky senator’s own party. Last fall, McConnell undermined Republican efforts to reclaim the upper chamber by redirecting scarce resources from competitive races in key states to a contest between two Republicans in Alaska. In November last year, despite his unpopularity, McConnell survived a challenge to his perch at the top of Senate leadership.
Despite a series of recent public health scares, the Republican Senate leader says he has no plans to leave Capitol Hill before his latest term expires in 2027.
On Sunday, 15 Senate Republicans blasted the GOP leader for working behind the scenes with Democrats to pass new funding for the proxy war with Russia in Ukraine. Republican Sen. Ron Johnson led the letter with 14 GOP colleagues demanding Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso of Wyoming call a meeting to discuss border security.
[READ:[READ:Republicans Deserve A Senate Leader Willing To Defend Their Interests Over Democrats’]
Tristan Justice is the western correspondent for The Federalist and the author of Social Justice Redux, a conservative newsletter on culture, health, and wellness. He has also written for The Washington Examiner and The Daily Signal. His work has also been featured in Real Clear Politics and Fox News. Tristan graduated from George Washington University where he majored in political science and minored in journalism. Follow him on Twitter at @JusticeTristan or contact him at [email protected]. Sign up for Tristan’s email newsletter here.
How does McConnell’s prioritization of his own power over supporting conservative candidates impact the perception of him within the party?
Ka. This move drew criticism from many within the party who believed that McConnell prioritized maintaining his own power over supporting conservative candidates.
McConnell’s unpopularity can also be attributed to his contentious role in the confirmation process of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Despite facing intense opposition from Democrats and liberal activists, McConnell stood firmly in support of Kavanaugh, leading to a deeply divided and highly politicized confirmation process. This further solidified McConnell’s reputation as a polarizing figure and alienated many Americans who disagreed with his stance on key issues.
Furthermore, McConnell’s handling of important legislative matters has also contributed to his low approval ratings. Many conservatives view McConnell as overly cautious and unwilling to take bold action on issues such as immigration and healthcare reform. This perception has frustrated both his colleagues in Congress and Republican voters, who feel that McConnell has not done enough to deliver on key campaign promises.
It is worth noting that while McConnell remains unpopular among the general population, he still maintains a significant amount of influence within the Republican Party. As the Senate Minority Leader, McConnell wields considerable power in shaping the party’s agenda and strategy. However, his low approval ratings are indicative of a broader discontent with the state of American politics and the perceived lack of effective leadership.
In conclusion, the latest poll from Monmouth University confirms what previous surveys have shown: Senate Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is the least popular politician in the country. With only 6 percent approval and 60 percent disapproval, McConnell’s numbers reflect a deep dissatisfaction with his job performance. From his handling of the Supreme Court confirmation process to his perceived inaction on important issues, McConnell has failed to win over a majority of Americans. As the Republican Party looks to rebuild and regain popularity, it’s clear that McConnell’s unpopularity poses a significant challenge. The question remains whether McConnell can adapt and regain the trust of the American people, or if his time as a political leader is coming to an end.
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