Opinion | Democrats could be on pace for a historic rout in November – By Douglas E. Schoen and Zoe Young (The Hill) / June 12, 2022
Three recent developments indicate that Democrats’ already shaky political prospects are deteriorating further, and suggest that the party could be on track to experience a historic rout — worse than 1994 or 2010 — in the midterm elections.
First, the president’s approval rating — which has historically been a harbinger of his party’s midterm performance — hit a new low this week: just one-third (35 percent) of registered voters approve of President Biden’s overall performance, while a majority (56 percent) disapprove, according to Quinnipiac polling.
Importantly, Democrats have lost ground with two key segments of their 2020 coalition — Independents and Hispanics — as only one-quarter of adults in each group approve of President Biden, while majorities disapprove.
Republicans also have an advantage in terms of preference for party control of Congress. Nearly one-half (46 percent) of registered voters prefer Republican control, while 41 percent prefer Democratic control. G.O.P. control is also preferred by Independents (40 percent-38 percent) and Hispanics (41 percent-38 percent).
