Poll: Republicans get more of the blame than Democrats for a potential shutdown

Poll: Republicans get more of the blame than Democrats for a potential shutdown

Domenico Montanaro

September 30, 2025 / 9:00 am

If the federal government were to shut down, Republicans would get more of the blame than Democrats, according to a new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll, but a significant percentage would blame both parties equally.

By a 38%-27% margin, respondents said they would blame Republicans for a shutdown with 3 in 10 saying both parties would be to blame. The plurality of independents, 4 in 10, would blame both parties equally.

"Neither one wants to compromise," said Debra Sudbeck, 71, an independent from Nebraska. "It's just that Republicans want to do everything they can to antagonize the Democrats, and Democrats want to do everything they can to go against the Republic