Special Poll
A recent Gallup poll has revealed that none of the U.S. federal government’s top elected and appointed officials have surpassed a 50% job approval rating. This finding is significant as it highlights a trend of declining approval ratings across a wide range of political leaders, not just isolated to President Biden.
Data: Gallup; Chart: Axios Visuals
The poll, conducted from December 1 to 20, showed Chief Justice John Roberts with the highest approval at 48%, a notable decrease from his 60% rating in 2021, before the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell also experienced a significant drop, now at 43% compared to 53% in the previous year.
President Biden’s approval rating stands at 39%, a slight decrease from 43% in 2021. The breakdown of this figure shows 78% approval from Democrats, 34% from independents, and 5% from Republicans. Vice President Kamala Harris is close behind with a 40% approval rating, down from 44% last year.
In Congress, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) received a 40% approval rating. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) recorded the lowest rating among the leaders at 27%, a drop from 34% in 2021. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), the House Minority Leader, earned a 46% approval rating, matching that of his predecessor Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in the same position in 2021. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) saw his approval decline to 41% from 44%.
In the realm of federal administration, Secretary of State Antony Blinken received a 45% approval rating, while Attorney General Merrick Garland scored 44%.
The overarching message from this Gallup poll is clear: President Biden, along with other leading figures in the federal government, is part of a broader pattern of leaders not achieving majority approval ratings, reflecting a general sentiment of dissatisfaction among the American public.