A Plurality Says the Republicans Are Responsible for the Shutdown

Publication Date: 10/09/2025 6:00 AM CST

A Plurality Says the Republicans Are Responsible for the Shutdown

Publication: 10/09/2025 6:00 AM CST

Member Content

The content you are trying to access is currently only available to Gold Circle Members. If you are a member, please log in to view.

To learn more about becoming a Gold Circle Member, please refer to our membership page.

Full Toplines: RESTRICTED

Full Crosstabs URL: RESTRICTED

Toplines are free for use after embargo, if any. Crosstabs are confidential and not for public release. However, you may cite specific demographic data from these reports.
For any data released, please cite Napolitan News Service.

Public Content

When asked which party is primarily responsible for the shutdown, 40% say the Republicans are responsible.
- Almost one third (31%) say the Democrats.
- And 23% say both parties play an equal role.
- Not surprisingly, 61% of Democrats say that the Republicans are responsible, and 43% of Republicans say the Democrats are to blame.
Eighteen percent (18%) of voters don't know or are not sure that there is currently a partial shutdown of the federal government.
- That includes 10% who say it is not shut down and 8% who are Not Sure.
And, even with all the rhetoric out of Washington, only a small percentage of voters (9%) say that the federal government shutdown has affected their lives A Lot.
- Another 20% say the shutdown has affected their lives in some way.
- Only 11% of government employees* say the shutdown has affected their lives A Lot, and 33% say the shutdown has affected them Some.
Just 24% of voters have been following recent news stories about the federal budget Very Closely.

* Note that our sample of government employees also includes state and local employees.

The most recent data cited is from a Napolitan News Service survey of 1,000 Registered Voters conducted online by Scott Rasmussen, October 6-7, 2025. Field work for the survey was conducted by RMG Research, Inc. and has a margin of error of +/- 3.1.