Datamar’s survey of political sentiment measured attitudes about incumbents in Washington D.C.

Respondents were asked what best described their feelings toward incumbents:

• They are working pretty hard and should be given more time to solve problems.
• They are doing okay but could be doing a better job.
• They should be voted out of office in the next election.

Both at the national and state levels incumbents are faring poorly. Nationwide, 44.3 percent of all respondents stated that incumbents should be voted out of office with 40.8 percent saying they are doing okay but could be doing better.

Among Democrats, 57.1 percent of state incumbents are doing okay but could be doing better, while 23.6 percent of all Democrats say they should be voted out of office. Only 14.7 percent of Democrats said that incumbents should be given more time to address the problems facing the country.

Republicans overwhelmingly want to see incumbents voted out of office, with 73.9 percent selecting this option. Only 20.1 percent of Republicans think incumbents are doing okay but could be doing better, and only 1.5 percent thinks incumbents should be given more time to solve the nation’s problems.

At the national level, Independents appear somewhat split between voting incumbents out of office (45 percent) and thinking they are doing okay but could be doing better (35.7 percent). Only 12.9 percent of Independents think incumbents should be allotted more time to work on problems.