Americans are more likely to view Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) unfavorably than favorably, according to a Gallup poll.
The Gallup survey released this week found 43 percent of Americans had an unfavorable view of Johnson, while 37 percent had a favorable view and 21 percent said they had no opinion. Republicans were predictably more likely than Democrats to hold positive opinions of Johnson, with 63 percent having favorable opinions, compared to 20 percent of Democrats.
Independents were more likely to have an unfavorable view of the Speaker: 43 percent, compared to 31 percent with a favorable one and 25 percent who said they had no opinion.
Gallup noted that the recent poll is the first time it surveyed the favorability of Johnson since he was voted into the Speakership last year. It also notes that Johnson’s predecessors, including former Speakers Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), also had higher unfavorable ratings than favorable.
Thirty-seven percent of Americans had a favorable opinion of McCarthy six months into his Speakership, while 44 percent had an unfavorable view. Nine months into her Speakership in 2019, 40 percent of Americans had a favorable view of Pelosi, while 50 percent had an unfavorable opinion.
Former Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) had higher favorable ratings than unfavorable in 2016; 44 percent of Americans had a favorable opinion of him, while 35 percent had an unfavorable view.
The poll was conducted June 3-23 among 1,005 U.S. adults and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.