10 November 2005

Most Want To Replace Their Congressman.

The rub goes that most people think Congress is bad, but like their own Congressman. Not anymore. In another part of the apparent sea change we are seeing right now, a majority of Americans want to replace their own Congressman.

Q. In the 2006 election for US Congress, do you feel that your representative deserves to be reelected, or do you think it is time to give a new person a chance?

Deserves to be reelected: 37%
Give new person a chance: 51%


I can't think of another time when this has been true in recent memory, and it coincides with record low approval ratings for the President and for Congress in general.

The next election is a year away, but now is the time when people decide to run in 2006. News like this emboldens strong challengers (both in general and primary elections), discourages waivering incumbents, and shifts the fund raising balance among corporate lobbiests whose bipartisan goal is to back winners so they can lobby for often only marginally partisan matters after the election.

3 comments:

Sotosoroto said...

In recent history, 1994 had the biggest changeover in the US Congress. I wonder if there was a similar poll in late 1993 to compare against.

Andrew Oh-Willeke said...

I'd love to see one if you could find one.

Sotosoroto said...

In August 1993, it was down to 21% favorable for Congress. Not quite the same question, but it does show 2005 numbers for comparison. It doesn't look like we're to revolution numbers yet. ... I'm just curious to find out if my congressman will have an opponent next year.