Monmouth Poll: 64% of Americans want Congress to avert a shutdown through compromise

With a potential government shutdown looming, a decisive majority of Americans want Congress to compromise, according to a new national poll conducted by the Monmouth University Polling Institute.

About two-thirds (64%) of the public believe that it is more important for Congress to compromise and avoid the shutdown than stick to their principles on spending, while 31% said sticking to principles was more important than avoiding a shutdown.

These numbers generally mirror independents’ views, of which 63% want to see compromise and 30% believe in holding on to principles.

The poll found, however, that political identification taints individuals’ views of the potential shutdown. Democrats overwhelmingly want to avoid a shutdown, at 76%-21%.  Republicans, though, are more likely to be open to a shutdown, with a pretty even split at 50%-46% saying to compromise.

“The vast majority of Americans want to avoid a shutdown,” said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute. “The faction who does not want any compromise may represent a small proportion of the public, but they hold outsized influence in the U.S. Capitol.”

The faction that seems to be most open to a shutdown to advance their agenda are self-identified conservative Republicans, of whom 42% believe their representatives should not budge on their spending principles. For self-identified liberal Democrats, only 27% say their spending priorities outweigh avoiding a government shutdown.

Broadly, though, most people want to see a shutdown avoided and have their government continue working – every demographic polled backs compromise over sticking to principles. The most decisive groups were people of color at 72%-24%, individuals making under $50,000 annually at 67%-26%, and women at 67%-27%.

That a government shutdown is possible has questioned Congress’ ability to function.  The poll found that only 17% of people approve of Congress, the lowest since August 2022.

President Joe Biden’s approvals have slipped; he now has an approval of just 38% – his lowest since last September.

College graduates are the only demographic, and just barely, who approve of Biden – at 48%-45%. Biden is upside down with all other major demographics.  Men disapprove at 36%-60%, followed by voters aged 35-54 who disapprove at 34%-61%.  Biden’s numbers are a bit better with voters of color, though still underwater at 43%-47%. 

If the government shuts down, 43% of the public says they will blame Republicans in Congress. 27% said they would blame Biden, while only 21% would blame Congressional Democrats.

The Monmouth University Poll was conducted from September 19 to 24, 2023, with a sample size of 814 adults in the United States and a margin of error of +/- 4.3%.