The 2024 presidential may set a new record for voter apathy.
Nearly 30 years of polling data compiled by the Pew Research Center finds Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democrat presidential nominee Joe Biden are the least popular pair of major party nominees ever.
In all, 25 percent of Americans have an unfavorable view of both Trump and Biden, setting a new record for across-the-board dissatisfaction with the candidates nominated by both Republicans and Democrats.
Only three percent of Americans view both Biden and Trump favorably. Thirty-six (36) percent view Trump favorably but not Biden while thirty-four (34) percent view Biden favorably but not Trump.
The previous record for dissatisfaction with both major party nominees was in 2016 when 20 percent of Americans disliked both Trump and Democrat nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The 2020 matchup between Trump and then-former Vice President Joe Biden tied the previous high for universal dislike at 13 percent.
Pew’s data, compiled from their own polling and that of Gallup/CNN and ABC News/Washington polls, finds an overall trend of growing discontent with the candidates nominated by Republicans and Democrats.
In 1988, only five percent of Americans both Republican nominee Vice President George H.W. Bush and Democrat nominee Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, with 66 percent viewing Dukakis favorably while 51 percent viewing Bush favorably.
In 1992, 13 percent of Americans viewed both Bush and Democrat nominee Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton unfavorably, with 55 percent viewing Bush favorably and 53 percent viewing Clinton favorably.
In 1996 just nine percent of Americans viewed both Clinton and Republican nominee Senator Bob Dole unfavorably, with 61 holding a favorable view of Clinton and 52 percent viewing Dole favorably.
In 2000 only six percent of Americans viewed both Republican nominee Texas Governor George W. Bush and Democrat nominee Vice President Al Gore unfavorably, with 60 percent having a favorable view of Bush and 52 percent having a favorable view of Gore
In 2004 another six percent of Americans viewed both Republican nominee Bush and Democrat nominee Senator John Kerry unfavorably, with 52 percent having a favorable view of Bush and 50 percent have a favorable view of Kerry.
The trend towards dissatisfaction with both parties began again in 2008, when 13 percent of Americans viewed both Democrat nominee Senator Barack Obama and Republican nominee Senator John McCain unfavorably, with 51 percent having a favorable view of Obama and 46 having a favorable view of McCain.
In 2012, 11 percent of voters viewed both Obama and Republican nominee former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney unfavorably, with 53 viewing Obama favorably and just
38 percent viewed Romney favorably.
In 2016 a record 20 percent of Americans viewed both Trump and Clinton unfavorably, with only 44 percent having a favorable view of Clinton and just 37 percent having a favorable view of Trump.
The 2020 election tied the previous record for nominee unfavorability, with 13 percent of Americans viewing both Trump and Biden unfavorably, with only 46 percent having a favorable view of Biden and 42 holding a favorable opinion of Trump.
That shot up to the new record of 25 of Americans viewing both major parties nominees unfavorably, with only 39 percent now viewing Trump favorably and Biden’s favorability plunging to just 37 percent.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
Donny Ferguson is a professional fundraiser and organizational manager. Born and raised in Texas, he has lived in Washington, D.C. for 16 years. Ferguson also served as Senior Communications and Policy Adviser in the United States House of Representatives, operating one of Capitol Hill's most effective media operations.
