Many Democrats and Republicans believe their political parties are falling short in how much focus they give to certain goals. A new survey asked members of each party whether their party focuses too much, too little, or the right amount on attempting to achieve 27 potential goals — and in nearly every case, in each party more said too little than too much.
Democrats are especially likely to say their party isn't doing enough, in countering opposition messaging, winning elections, attracting new members, and touting its achievements. Republicans are somewhat more satisfied with how their party balances its efforts, though many would like to see more effort in cost-of-living issues and candidate recruitment.
Democratic Party priorities
Of the possible party goals included in the survey, Democrats are most likely to say the Democratic Party focuses too little on countering Republican messaging (54%), winning control of Congress (53%), developing the next generation of party leaders (52%), attracting new members to the party (49%), touting its accomplishments (49%), and winning the presidency (49%).
The actions and goals Democrats are least likely to say their party focuses too little on are sending emails, texts, and mail to voters (21%), promoting civility in politics (22%), raising money and resources (23%), working with interest groups and activists (26%), avoiding controversy (26%), and passing bipartisan legislation (26%).
One in five Democrats (22%) say the Democratic Party focuses too much on avoiding controversy; 17% say it focuses too much on promoting civility in politics.
Republican Party priorities
Republicans are most likely to say the Republican Party focuses too little on addressing cost-of-living concerns (43%), recruiting qualified candidates to run for office (39%), countering Democratic messaging (38%), developing the next generation of party leaders (36%), and maintaining party unity (34%).
The smallest shares of Republicans say their party is focused too little on sending emails, texts, and mail to voters (10%), winning the presidency (15%), touting its accomplishments (17%), responding quickly to current events (18%), and working with interest groups and activists (18%). 23% say the party focuses too much on touting its accomplishments.
Comparing party priorities
Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say their party focuses too little on most goals included in the survey — and less likely than Republicans to say their party strikes the right balance.
Democrats are far more likely than Republicans to say their party focuses too little on winning the presidency (Democrats are 34 percentage points more likely than Republicans) and winning control of Congress (+24). They are also far more likely to say their party isn't focused enough on touting its accomplishments (+32), energizing its supporters (+28), responding quickly to current events (+22), and leading public opinion rather than following it (+21).
There are only two goals that Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say their party focuses too little on achieving, and by thin margins: avoiding controversy (Republicans are 5 percentage points more likely than Democrats) and promoting civility in politics (+4).
— Carl Bialik contributed to this article
See the results for this YouGov polls
Methodology: This article includes results from an online survey conducted April 16 - 19, 2025 among 1,160 U.S. adult citizens. Respondents were selected from YouGov’s opt-in panel to be representative of adult U.S. citizens. The sample was weighted according to gender, age, race, education, 2024 presidential vote, 2020 election turnout and presidential vote, baseline party identification, and current voter registration status. 2024 presidential vote, at time of weighting, was estimated to be 48% Harris and 50% Trump. Demographic weighting targets come from the 2019 American Community Survey. Baseline party identification is the respondent’s most recent answer given around November 8, 2024, and is weighted to the estimated distribution at that time (31% Democratic, 32% Republican). The margin of error for the overall sample is approximately 4%.
Image: Getty
What do you really think about President Trump, American politics in general, and everything else? Share your reality, join the YouGov panel, and get paid to share your thoughts. Sign up here.
