Following the recent defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris in the U.S. presidential elections, nearly half of Democratic voters express pessimism about her future.
According to a Pew Research Center survey cited by The Hill, 49% of Democrats and left-leaning independents doubt the party's successes. This marks a significant increase in negative sentiment compared to previous years — over 20% more than after the 2022 midterm elections, and even 10% more than after Hillary Clinton's defeat in 2016.
Among the most pessimistic are younger voters under 50, with 50% expressing doubts about the party's future. Meanwhile, older voters show a lower level of negativity at only 39%. Progressive Democrats are also more likely than moderates to express disappointment: 52% compared to 46%.
Despite this, 51% of respondents remain optimistic, although this figure is 10% lower than in 2022. Notably, after Harris's loss, many Democrats, despite the rising disappointment, believe that Kamala Harris should be the party's next candidate in 2028.
At the same time, the situation appears more favorable for the Republican Party. Following Trump's gaining control of the White House and Congress, optimism among Republicans has significantly increased, reaching 86%. This is higher than after Trump's first victory in 2016 (79%). Conservative Republicans are particularly optimistic — 92% compared to 78% among more moderate members.
Source: thehill.