Single Chart Shows DNC's Downfall Among the American Electorate Since 2009
A single chart shows the losses that Democrats have experienced in both federal and state offices to Republicans since 2009.
The chart was part of a 2024 election autopsy released Thursday by the Democratic National Committee.
“The sad truth is Democrats have lost ground at every level from inconsistent messaging and improper planning, even as the policies the Party advances continue to earn voter support at the ballot box,” concluded Democratic strategist Paul Rivera in the report he authored for the DNC.
“Ballot measures for Medicaid expansion, nonpartisan redistricting, wage increases, family leave, and reproductive freedom have passed in states where Democrats remain locked out of statewide offices,” he added.
“This divergence means the Party and our candidates have lost the confidence and trust of voters. In the face of misinformation and disinformation, our candidates have proven incapable of projecting strength, unity, and leadership, and voters have drifted away,” Rivera said.
He included a chart in his report, which shows that over the 16 years from 2009 to 2025, Republicans have gained 13 seats in the U.S. Senate and 41 seats in the U.S. House compared to Democrats.
Further, the GOP picked up a net of five new state governorships and 823 state legislative seats. Finally, Republicans have trifecta leadership — governor and both state legislative chambers — in 22 states, up from just nine in 2009.
A brutal chart from the DNC autopsy pic.twitter.com/fwfwREmxdH
— Chris Cillizza (@ChrisCillizza) May 21, 2026
Gallup reported in October 2024 that the issues voters deemed “extremely important” were the economy (52 percent), democracy in the U.S. (49 percent), terrorism/national security (45 percent), Supreme Court justice picks (45 percent), immigration (41 percent), education (38 percent), health care (37 percent), gun policy (37 percent), and abortion (37 percent).
Further, Navigator Research found in exit polls in the battleground states that inflation and immigration were the top issues determining who voters chose to represent them in Congress.
Thirty percent of voters said inflation was the top issue, and 28 percent said immigration and the border. With those issues in mind, voters in all seven swing states chose Donald Trump in 2024.
Republicans also flipped four U.S. Senate seats during the election cycle, including wins for Dave McCormick in Pennsylvania, Bernie Moreno in Ohio, Tim Sheehy in Montana, and Jim Justice in West Virginia. The first three candidates ousted Democrat incumbents.
A Quinnipiac poll released earlier this month found 20 percent of the electorate approve of the way Democrats in Congress are handling their job, while 72 percent disapprove. That figure is near an all-time low of 18 percent approval in December 2025.
As for Republicans in Congress, 27 percent approve, and 67 percent disapprove, which is down from December when 35 percent approved and 58 percent disapproved.
Democratic Party Approval Rating Among Men
🟢 Approve: 16% (-62)
🔴 Disapprove: 78%Quinnipiac poll | 5/14-5/18 pic.twitter.com/MIPhSwCict
— OSZ (@OpenSourceZone) May 20, 2026
Most often, the party not holding the White House does better in the midterm elections in the House, but there have been exceptions, including Democrats picking up seats in 1998 and Republicans in 2002.
Going into this year’s midterms, the Cook Political Report rates 210 seats as leaning Republican or likely Republican wins, to the Democrats’ 207, leaving 18 toss-ups, 14 of which are currently held by the GOP and four by the Democrats.
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