Which political party will keep the US prosperous? Poll reveals trend reversal

Americans now see Democrats and Republicans as equally equipped to steer the nation toward prosperity — marking a notable shift from previous years, when the GOP held an advantage, according to a new Gallup poll.

However, Republicans continue to hold an edge when it comes to safeguarding the country from foreign threats, though their lead has diminished markedly.

Taken together, these data points suggest the surge in trust and favorability enjoyed by Republicans during former President Joe Biden’s term has waned, following President Donald Trump’s return to office.

“Yet, while Republicans have lost ground this year on the key issues of maintaining prosperity and national security, Democrats have seen no corresponding gains,” Gallup noted. “Relatedly, Americans remain broadly dissatisfied with both major parties, with neither viewed favorably by even half of the public.”

The survey was conducted Sept. 2-16 with 1,000 U.S. adults, and it has a margin of error of 4 percentage points.

Preserving prosperity, safeguarding security

In the poll, 47% of respondents said they believe the Democratic Party “will do a better job of keeping the country prosperous,” while 43% said the same of the Republican Party.

The results indicate a turning point for Democrats, who have trailed Republicans on this metric for the past four years — coinciding with Biden’s time in office.

The last time the Democrats outpaced the GOP when it comes to maintaining national prosperity was 2020, and their advantage has not been this large since 2012. That said, the Democrats’ new 4-point lead falls within the margin of error.

The survey also asked respondents: “Which political party do you think will do a better job of protecting the country from international terrorism and military threats?”

Nearly half, 48%, said Republicans would be better, while 41% said Democrats would be preferable.

That said, the share of respondents choosing the GOPs has shrunk, falling from 54% in 2024 and 57% in 2023. In contrast, the share selecting Democrats on this measure has risen from 40% in 2024 and 35% in 2023.

“Republicans have led on this measure nearly every year since the start of the trend in 2002, with the lead averaging 10 points and peaking at 23 points in 2014,” Gallup noted.

Low favorability ratings

Even with changing views on prosperity and safety, other indicators suggest Americans maintain a generally negative outlook on both Democrats and Republicans.

Less than half of respondents, 40%, expressed a favorable view of the Republican Party. This is up from 38% in July , but down from 44% in November 2024.

Democrats, meanwhile, fared slightly worse, garnering a 37% approval rating. This represents an increase from 34% in July and a decrease from 38% in November.

Further, respondents posed the question: “Which political party do you think can do a better job of handling the problem you think is most important?”

Forty percent named the Democratic Party, while 38% chose the Republican Party, reversing the trend of the last four years, when the GOP maintained a slight advantage.

Additionally, the survey showed that Americans tend to align with Democrats on core values but favor Republicans when it comes to specific policy positions.

When asked what they appreciate about Democrats, 44% of respondents cited their “values/political philosophy,” compared to just 24% who said the same for Republicans. Conversely, 30% expressed approval of the GOP’s issue positions, while only 20% favored the Democrats on policy matters.

Analyzing these findings, Gallup concluded, “With Republicans setting the agenda in Washington, their perceived strengths lie more with policy positions, largely aligning with Trump’s priorities since taking office. As the opposition party, the Democrats are noted for political ideals long associated with the Democratic Party, such as being the party of the working class or championing equality and diversity.”

The results come on the heels of another Gallup survey, which found a near-record high 62% of Americans believe both major parties are failing to represent them and that a third party is needed.

This story was originally published October 21, 2025 at 11:33 AM with the headline "Which political party will keep the US prosperous? Poll reveals trend reversal."