Americans Rate Past Presidents Favorably, but Lower Than Last Year

Publication Date: 02/14/2026 5:00 AM CST

Americans Rate Past Presidents Favorably, but Lower Than Last Year

Publication: 02/14/2026 5:00 AM CST

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While Voter opinions of legendary presidents in America's past remain high, opinions are slightly lower than last year's.
Although down 3 points from last February, a large majority (87%) of registered voters have a Favorable view of our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, who led the country through the Civil War.
- Only 7% have an Unfavorable View of him.
Eight in 10 voters (81%) have a Favorable view of the first president, George Washington, down 8 points from last February.
- Eleven percent (11%) have an Unfavorable View of him.
- Fewer younger voters aged 18-34 (70%) have a favorable view of Washington, while at least 88% of voters over 55 view him favorably.
- Just 61% of black voters view Washington favorably.
Three quarters (73%) have a Favorable view of founding father and third president Thomas Jefferson, down 11 points from last February.
- Fourteen percent (14%) have an Unfavorable View of him.
- A significant number (80%) of voters who talk politics every or nearly every day have a favorable view of Jefferson.
Just 17% of registered voters believe that Presidents' Day is one of our nation's most important holidays.
- One third (34%) say it is the least important.
- These numbers are similar to last year.
- A higher percentage of Republicans (23%) compared to Democrats (13%) say Presidents' Day is one of the most important holidays.
Only 14% plan to do something special to celebrate Presidents' Day this year.
- One third (32%) of politically engaged voters plan to celebrate this year.

This data is from a Napolitan News Service survey of 1,000 Registered Voters conducted online by Scott Rasmussen, February 11-12, 2026. RMG Research, Inc., conducted the field work for the survey. It has a margin of error of +/- 3.1.