Five months ahead of the midterm elections, Americans aren't happy---with anyone. A new survey from the New York Times/Siena finds 43% of voters are dissatisfied with both the Republican and Democrat parties. Individually, the parties are each far under water, with 30% satisfied with Republicans and just 23% satisfied with Democrats. Just 4% are satisfied with both parties. "The president's popularity is low, too," says Jeff Crouere, political analyst and host. "So I think people are just unhappy---they're unhappy with the lack of action (by Congress), they're unhappy with the state of the economy, they're unhappy with the war, consumer confidence is at its lowest level in years...so I think it makes sense in that people have problems, and they don't see Congress doing anything really to solve them."
The anger and frustration from voters can be seen in polls showing low approval ratings for Congressional leaders from their own party. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer are both unpopular among Democrat voters, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune is facing anger from Republican voters. Then there are the recent primaries, which have seen establishment lawmakers like Senators Bill Cassidy and John Cornyn bounced by GOP voters. "A lot of these longtime incumbents are getting defeated, which means that within the Republican base there is a desire for change," says Crouere. "And Democrats aren't happy with their leadership either, because they don't see their leaders really getting anything done...so there's just a lot of discontent out there."
All of this would seem to suggest the country is ripe for a viable third party movement. A Gallup poll earlier this year found 45% of American adults now identify as independents. But Crouere believes a third party is easier said than done. "I think there is a lot of potential support for it," he tells KTRH. "But you need a charismatic leader, and you need the money, and I just don't see that on the horizon right now...for awhile, I thought it may be RFK Jr., but he's now aligned with Trump."
Last year, Elon Musk teased starting a third party, but that quickly fizzled out. "Going forward, I think you're going to see efforts to change within the parties (like what Trump has done to the GOP), but I don't see another person on the horizon right now to lead a third party effort," says Crouere.
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