- Biden’s approval ratings have improved, driven in part by stronger standings among less ideological Democrats and independents.
- Of a range of items, top concerns for Americans on schools are school shootings and book bans.
- Majorities continue to say gun violence and mass shootings are a crisis or major issue and want stronger gun laws.
Biden’s Numbers Have Ticked Up Across the Board
President Biden’s overall approval ratings have improved by a net 5 points since August 1st (from net -16 to net -11) while his economic approval rating has improved by a net 7 points (from -22 to -15) and his pandemic approval by a net 4 points (from +5 to +9).
Non-Liberal Democrats, Independents, Black Americans, and Hispanic Americans Are Among Greatest Approval Improvers
Since early August, net approval of Biden among non-liberal Democrats has increased by 15 points (from net +29 to net +44), among independents has increased by 8 (from -38 to -30), among Black Americans by 13 (from +41 to +54), and Hispanic Americans by 19 (from -2 to +17).
School Shootings and Book Bans Dominate Concerns for Americans Around Schools, Including Parents
Parents are most concerned about school shootings (64% very concerned), books being banned (59%), people with extreme viewpoints dictating what gets taught in a classroom (53%), and the underfunding of public schools (51%).
Biden and Democrats More Trusted on Funding Public Schools and Education Generally
Independents are more likely to trust Biden and Democrats on “making sure public schools have the funding” they need (net +19 trust Biden and Democrats) and “the issue of education” (+18).
Majorities Continue to Call Gun Violence and Mass Shootings a Crisis or Major Issue
Nearly seven in ten independents call each a “crisis” or a “major issue, but not a crisis” (69% each).
Three in Five Are Concerned by Republicans and Say They Are “for the Wealthy,” “Corrupt,” “Dishonest,” “Out of Touch
A majority of independents (59%) have major concerns about how Republicans in Congress are handling their jobs and are most likely to describe them as “for the wealthy” (34%), “corrupt” (34%), “dishonest” (30%), and “out-of-touch” (29%).
Nearly Two in Three Continue to Want Stronger Gun Laws
Majorities of Democrats (86%), independents (55%), and every racial group favor stronger gun laws; 82% of Republicans want gun laws to be made stronger or kept the same as they are now.
