Anti-Incumbent Mood Growing for Next Year's House Elections

2 years ago

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While 52 percent of voters would like to see their own congressman re-elected, only 34 percent want to see most other sitting representatives returned to office in 2010, a finding that the Pew Research Center reflects an anti-incumbent mood in the country.

The 52 percent who want to see their own representative re-elected is on par with the numbers for 1994, when the Republicans captured the House after years as a minority, and 2006, when the Democrats recaptured it.

Twenty-nine percent would not like to see their own representative re-elected, while 53 percent want incumbents to get the boot next year, according to the poll conducted Oct. 28 - Nov. 8.

Those findings come amid what Pew describes as a "gloomy" view of the economy, with 91 percent saying it is in poor or "only fair" shape while 8 percent say it is excellent or good.

Support for incumbents is particularly low among independents. Only 25 percent of them want to see most incumbents re-elected.

The survey also found that Republicans hold an "enthusiasm" advantage going into the midterms, with 58 percent of those planning to vote Republican saying they are enthusiastic compared to 42 percent for the Democrats.

This poll comes on the same day as Gallup reported Republicans now lead Democrats by 48 percent to 44 percent on a "generic" ballot for next year's House seats.

Filed Under: Democrats, Republicans, Polls, Poll Watch, Independents, 2010 Elections, Congress

Tagged: daily guidance, DailyGuidance

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