Voter Dissatisfaction with U.S. Congress and Individual Lawmakers Reaches New Highs
A new UMass Amherst poll indicates a significant increase in voter frustration with the U.S. political system, extending beyond Congress as an institution to individual lawmakers. Only 22% of Americans approve of Congress's job, with a mere 3% strongly approving. This dissatisfaction now includes a reversal of a long-standing trend where voters typically viewed their own representatives more favorably than Congress as a whole; currently, only 28% approve of their representative, while 38% disapprove. This shift coincides with an unusually high number of incumbent primary losses this year, with eleven House lawmakers and two GOP senators failing to secure re-election bids. Seven of these primary losses were Democrats, often older lawmakers defeated by younger, more progressive challengers, while four House Republicans also lost. This marks a notable departure from historical patterns where incumbents typically enjoy high re-election rates, often exceeding 90% for House members. 
