A new Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll shows most Americans have had enough of the ongoing government shutdown — and they want it to end on Republican terms.
The survey, released Monday, found 70 percent of voters oppose the shutdown, now entering its sixth day, while only 30 percent support it.
The poll also found strong backing for the GOP’s proposal to keep the government open at current spending levels. Sixty-five percent of respondents said Democrats should agree to a continuing resolution without demanding extra funding for the Affordable Care Act. Only 35 percent said Democrats should keep holding out.
Despite the widespread frustration, a majority of voters — 62 percent — believe Republicans will ultimately emerge with the upper hand, compared with 38 percent who expect Democrats to come out ahead.
Overall approval for Congress continued to slide, dropping to 32 percent, down five points from the previous month’s 37 percent.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shared the poll’s results on X on Tuesday, taking a victory lap with her caption.
“The ratings for Congress dropped to new lows as voters are frustrated that rather than solutions to problems, Congress has shut down the government instead,” said Mark Penn, chair of the Harris Poll. “There’s no clear direction at the minute on who it is helping or hurting except the entire system.”
The standoff centers on competing funding bills. Republicans are pushing a “clean” continuing resolution that would keep spending steady through Nov. 21, while Democrats are demanding an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies in exchange for funding through Oct. 31.
The House has already passed the GOP-backed legislation, but it has repeatedly stalled in the Senate. Still, three Senate Democrats have previously voted for the bill — revealing cracks within their caucus as the shutdown drags on.
The Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll was conducted Oct. 1–2 among 2,413 registered voters in partnership with the Center for American Political Studies at Harvard University and the Harris Poll. The survey, drawn from the Harris Panel and weighted for demographic accuracy, carries a margin of error of ± 1.99 percentage points.
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