Republican Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio has pinned the blame on Democrats for Congress's approval rating plunging to just 10 percent in a recent Gallup survey, a near-record low that ties previous lows set in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2015.
Speaking on Fox Business Network's "Varney & Co.," the House Judiciary Committee chair argued that the minority party's actions during the record-long government shutdown last fall are largely responsible for the dismal numbers. That shutdown, Jordan contended, stemmed from Democratic demands to extend pandemic-era subsidies under the Affordable Care Act—legislation that has yet to pass.
Jordan also took aim at the Biden administration's immigration policies, accusing Democrats of blocking funding for the Department of Homeland Security. The department has been operating without a budget for over two months, he noted, as Democrats push for changes to immigration enforcement procedures following the fatal shootings of two American citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, by federal officers in Minneapolis earlier this year.
"So, of course people are going to be frustrated with the crazy things Democrats propose and the crazy things they do," Jordan told host Stuart Varney.
The Gallup poll, conducted from April 1-15, surveyed 1,001 adults and found that 86 percent disapproved of Congress's performance. This marks the fifth time disapproval has hit that level, tying records set in December 2011, February 2012, November 2013, and November 2015. According to Gallup, Congress has not enjoyed a net positive approval rating in over two decades; the last time disapproval dipped below 60 percent was in May 2009.
Jordan acknowledged that the legislative process is inherently "cumbersome," but he doubled down on his criticism of Democrats as the root cause of public discontent. He praised the Founders' design of checks and balances, calling it "the best government ever," but added that "it still sometimes is messy."
"But specifically, it's the crazy Democrat policies that I think are driving the position that Americans have about Congress," he concluded.
The Ohio Republican's remarks come amid broader political tensions. A recent Fox News poll showed Democrats leading on the economy for the first time since 2010, a shift that could reshape midterm dynamics. Meanwhile, some analysts warn that Democrats may force another shutdown ahead of November elections, further complicating the legislative landscape.
