New Polling Reveals Just How Bad Democrats’ Shutdown Stunt Backfired on Them

A new Economist/YouGov survey found that only eight percent of Americans believe Democrats “won” the government shutdown battle, while larger portions of voters across party lines said neither side prevailed.

Only eight percent of Americans believe Democrats “won” the government shutdown battle, a weekly survey from the Economist/YouGov found. pic.twitter.com/sA6gth3Glf

— Bill Mitchell (@mitchellvii) November 24, 2025

The findings were released following the end of the 43-day shutdown, which concluded last week after President Donald Trump signed a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government.

The survey asked respondents, “In your opinion, who won the shutdown battle?”

A plurality of Americans, 39 percent, said neither side won.

Thirty-five percent said Republicans won, and eight percent said Democrats.

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The remaining respondents were uncertain.

Among Democrats, 14 percent said their party won the shutdown fight.

Twenty-five percent said Republicans won, while 45 percent said neither party prevailed.

Republicans viewed the outcome more favorably for their side, with 52 percent saying Republicans won and 26 percent saying neither side did.

Independents showed the strongest inclination toward no winner, with 46 percent selecting neither.

Twenty-eight percent said Republicans won, and four percent said Democrats won.

The survey sampled 1,549 U.S. citizens from November 15-17, 2025, and carries a margin of error of +/- 3.5 percent.

The shutdown ended when Congress passed a clean continuing resolution to fund the government through the end of January.

The legislation also included three of the twelve appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2026 — covering agriculture, military construction-Veterans Affairs, and the legislative branch — with funding for those programs extending through the end of September.

President Trump signed the measure last week.

He appeared alongside House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota, and cabinet officials. At the signing, Trump criticized Democratic leaders for prolonging the closure.

“For the past 43 days, Democrats in Congress shut down the government of the United States in an attempt to extort American taxpayers for hundreds of billions of dollars for illegal aliens and people that came into our country illegally,” Trump said.

.@POTUS: “For the past 43 days, Democrats in Congress shut down the government of the United States in an attempt to extort American taxpayers for hundreds of billions of dollars for illegal aliens… Today, we’re sending a clear message that we will NEVER give in to extortion.” pic.twitter.com/kMKncQPsiL

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 13, 2025

He said Republicans offered a clean continuing resolution earlier in the process, but Democratic leaders insisted on a separate funding plan that included $1.5 trillion in spending.

That proposal contained additional provisions, including funding earmarked for left-wing media organizations and healthcare benefits for individuals who entered the country illegally.

Trump said the shutdown had widespread effects on the public.

“They caused 20,000 flights to be cancelled or delayed; they departed so many times so late. People were hurt so badly. Nobody’s ever seen anything like this one. This was a no-brainer, this was an easy extension, but they didn’t want to do it the easy way,” he said.

During his remarks, Trump said the resolution signaled that the administration would not yield to pressure.

“Today, we’re sending a clear message that we will never give in to extortion, because that’s what it was. They tried to extort — the Democrats tried to extort our country,” he said.

The 43-day closure was the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. Congressional negotiations had stalled repeatedly as Democratic leaders and Republican lawmakers debated spending demands and policy provisions.

The clean resolution ultimately gained enough support to pass after extended negotiations, ending the shutdown heading into the final weeks of the calendar year.

Survey data released this week shows that public perception reflects widespread dissatisfaction with the standoff.

With majorities or pluralities across all political affiliations saying no party won the shutdown battle, the results suggest that voters viewed the extended closure as a setback rather than a victory for either side.