Gallup: Republican Voters Drive Sinking Congressional Approval

Congress’ approval rating has dropped to 20 percent, with a loss of support among Republicans the driving cause, a new Gallup poll finds.

Republican support for lawmakers fell from 50 percent two months ago to 31 percent in April. Congressional job approval reached a seven-year high in February at 28 percent – but dipped again after the GOP healthcare replacement bill failed, President Donald Trump’s new executive travel ban was again challenged in court and reports surfaced of additional connections between Trump’s campaign team and Russian officials during the 2016 presidential election.

The healthcare bill was a major failure as House Speaker Paul Ryan couldn’t muster enough support from Republicans to even get a floor vote on the bill despite a big push from Trump.

Republicans control the Senate and the House and, therefore have a higher percentage of support from Republican voters. Percentage numbers were similar for Democratic support when the Democratic Party took control of both chambers after 2007.

But "Americans typically do not have a high opinion of Congress," reads the report. "Gallup has measured approval of Congress 286 times over the past 43 years, and a majority approved only 22 times, with an average approval over time of 30%."

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