Don't Count on a Blue Wave in Midterms. Most Americans Say Democrats Are 'Weak.'

With midterm elections just about a year away, the signs of a blue wave are looking … well, grim. 

At least that’s what the polls are showing.

Democrats have spent much of 2025 trying to dust off their defeats last November and figure out how to stay relevant in a federal government they no longer control. 

The problem is, most Americans aren’t impressed with what they’re seeing. Democrats continue getting historically low marks among voters, and it’s hard to see them turning things around by November 2026.

The Democratic Party was in a much better position to take back Congress during President Donald Trump’s first term, and it’s helpful to compare where the party is now versus its standing in 2017.