Poll Finds Increasing Blame on Democrats for Continued Shutdown

New poll shows Democrats losing public support as Americans increasingly blame both parties for the ongoing 2025 government shutdown.

Published October 20, 2025

A new poll finds that the ongoing government shutdown is taking a toll on Democrats’ public perception, as more Americans assign blame to their party. Results of the online survey, published Oct. 14, are a part of a series of polling tracking Americans’ responses to the shutdown and other current events.

Americans are still more likely to blame Republicans than Democrats for the ongoing government shutdown, but a new YouGov/The Economist poll shows that gap is narrowing.

Just six points now separate the parties: 39 percent of respondents blame President Trump and congressional Republicans, while 33 percent blame Democrats. Last week, that gap was 11 points, with 41 percent blaming Republicans and 30 percent blaming Democrats according to the recent survey.

The share of Americans blaming both sides equally fell to 20 percent this week, down from 23 percent. (RELATED: Senator Johnson Announces Pledge to Donate Paychecks to Joseph Fund During Shutdown)

The shift comes as the shutdown nears its third week with no resolution in sight. Democrats are pushing to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at year’s end, warning that millions could face higher premiums. Republicans say they won’t negotiate on healthcare subsidies until Democrats back their proposal to reopen the government.

Day 16 and counting—Democrats’ loyalty is to illegal aliens, not Americans. pic.twitter.com/Xjmvqmwl8L
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 16, 2025

The government shutdown began Oct. 1, 2025 due to Congress’ failure to pass funding legislation for 2026. Since that time, both parties have sent strong messaging assigning blame to the other side. Republican Speaker Mike Johnson shared highlights of his disagreement with the Democrats’ demands, which he said include, “$200 Billion in Health Care Benefits for Illegal Aliens”, “$500 Million for Liberal News Outlets”, and “the repeal of the $50 billion rural hospitals fund,” according to a graphic he shared on X on Oct. 15.

To end the shutdown, Democrats are DEMANDING $1.5 TRILLION in new partisan spending.

This is an unserious proposal made by unserious people.

Here are just a few of the things they are using to take the government hostage ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/IIyQz16t1P
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) October 15, 2025

As week three of the shutdown continues, it remains to be seen whether both parties can compromise on a solution that addresses what Democrats call a potential financial catastrophe without yielding to what Republicans call unserious and partisan spending. (RELATED: ‘Another Burden’: Wisconsin Leaders Split Over Wheel Tax Hike)