• A majority (58%) of registered voters say when it comes to U.S. Senators and Representatives in Congress, it is more important to compromise to get things done than to stick to their principles even if that causes gridlock.
  • One third (34%) say it's more important to stick to their principles.
  • Democrats and Republicans have similar opinions: 53% of Republicans say it's more important to compromise, and 62% of Democrats agree.
  • On the other hand, 39% of Republicans and 30% of Democrats say the leaders should stick to their principles.
• However, just 42% of voters say their representatives in Congress are more likely to compromise in that situation.
  • 45% disagree and say their own representative would stick to principles even if it caused gridlock. 
• Still, in the current government shutdown, 74% say that ensuring the budget meets policy goals is more important than just passing the budget quickly.
  • Only 21% of voters say that it is more important to pass a budget quickly even if it doesn't meet particular policy goals.
  • A larger percentage of postgraduates (31%) agree that it's more important to pass the budget quickly.
  • Although the parties differ on policy goals, 71% of Republicans and 79% of Democrats say that the budget should meet policy goals before it's passed.
• If voters had a choice between two Congressional candidates, 46% would choose the person who pledged to work across the aisle and compromise to pass a budget without a government shutdown, while (41%) would choose the candidate who pledged to stick with their principles.
  • Forty-three percent (43%) of Republicans would select the candidate who would compromise with those across the aisle, while a plurality (49%) say they would vote for the candidate who pledged to stick to principles that are important to them even if that means a temporary shutdown.
  • Democrats take the opposite stance: 51% would select the candidate who would compromise, and only 35% would vote for the candidate who would stick to principles.

The most recent data cited is from a Napolitan News Service survey of 1,000 Registered Voters conducted online by Scott Rasmussen, October 8-9, 2025. Field work for the survey was conducted by RMG Research, Inc. and has a margin of error of +/- 3.1.