- A majority say they have felt “frustrated” since Biden was elected, though that number jumps to seven in ten when Biden’s presidency is not provided as context.
- Bipartisan majorities support new legislation to limit the ability of members of Congress to trade stocks while in office.
- There has been an increase in the share of Americans who report hearing about the Freedom to Vote Act as a majority continue to support it.
Americans Are Divided on the Direction of the Country Compared to a Year Ago, With or Without the Context of Biden
Without mentioning Biden taking office, 45% of Americans say the country is headed in a worse direction; with mention of the president, 47% say the same.
- Among Republicans, without context of Biden, 78% say “worse”: with, the number jumps to 87%.
While Half Feel “Frustrated” Since Biden Was Elected, Far More “Frustrated” In General Than With Biden
Provided the context of “since Biden was elected,” 64% of Democrats say they feel “hopeful,” 43% “relieved,” and 30% “excited.”
Though Both Congressional Democrats and Republicans Are Underwater, Republicans Are More Deeply So
Among independents, while net approval for Democrats in Congress is at -27, for Republicans in Congress, it is at net -41.
- While Democrats in Congress are at +54 among Democrats, Republicans in Congress are at just +25 among Republicans.
Pandemic Is First Priority for One in Four Americans
Democrats (36%) and independents (32%) rank the pandemic as their #1 issue, while just 11% of Republicans do the same; Republicans’ top issues are jobs and the economy (18%), inflation (18%), and immigration (12%).
New Legislation to Ban Members of Congress from Trading Stocks Earns Majority Bipartisan Support
Two in three Americans across party lines support legislation that would limit the ability of members of Congress from trading stocks in office.
There Has Been an Uptick in Familiarity With the Freedom to Vote Act as Majorities Continue to Support It
There was a 19-point uptick among independents hearing about the Freedom to Vote Act in the last two weeks as net support ticked up 3 points; Republican support for the legislation dropped 25 points in the same period of time.
Seven in Ten Say Passing Voting Rights Legislation Is Important
A majority say passing voting rights legislation is “very important,” including 43% of independents and 33% of Republicans.
Three in Five Report Understanding the Filibuster While a Plurality Support Eliminating It
Nearly two in five independents support eliminating the filibuster (38%), while 31% say they are not sure.
About The Study
This release features findings from national online surveys of 1,000 registered voters conducted January 20-24, 2022. Additional interviews were conducted among 100 Hispanic voters, 100 African American voters, 100 independents without a partisan lean, and 75 Asian American and Pacific Islander voters.