The beginning of 2020 was rocky for Republicans. Though many saw the Democrat’s impeachment stunt for the political sham it was, having a president accused of impeachable offenses during re-election is slightly unsettling. Now with President Trump completely exonerated, he is enjoying the highest approval rating of his presidency, and the GOP’s approval rating is simultaneously skyrocketing.
Trump stands at a 94% approval rating with Republicans, up six percentage points from last month. His approval rating also jumped five points with Independents since January. Under Trump’s America First vision, the GOP is attracting enthusiasm too – the Republican Party earned the highest approval rating since 2005 in February. According to new Gallup polling, 51% of Americans now view the Republican Party favorably, up from 43% in September. Democrats meanwhile have lost favor. Just 45% of Americans approve of the Democratic Party now, down from 48% in September. While Democrats have been scrambling to unseat President Trump in a series of bitter failures for four years straight, the GOP has been solving problems.
The GOP is Prioritizing Bipartisan Economic and Security Issues
Recently, Market Research Foundation grouped Gallup polling on a range of public policy issues into categories based on voter satisfaction and partisan focus. The analysis revealed a majority of the issues Americans are most satisfied with – including the economy, the military, national security, and economic opportunity – are issues the GOP prioritizes. The top issues Americans believe are important, and are overall satisfied with, are shown below.
| Issue Category | Satisfied | Unsatisfied |
| military strength | 81% | 13% |
| economic opportunity | 72% | 27% |
| national security | 68% | 27% |
| state of US economy | 68% | 29% |
| influence of religion in US culture | 59% | 38% |
The same polling also revealed many of the top issues Americans are still unsatisfied with – issues like immigration, taxes, and the size of government – are issues the GOP places more emphasis on solving compared to Democrats. The top issues Americans believe are important, and are overall unsatisfied with, are shown below.
| Issue Category | Satisfied | Unsatisfied |
| government in general | 43% | 57% |
| size of government | 38% | 62% |
| taxes | 37% | 60% |
| level of immigration in 2020 | 35% | 57% |
| morals and ethics in US culture | 32% | 68% |
Economic opportunity and military preparedness form the basic safety and wealth infrastructure of the country. By focusing on these issues instead of prioritizing fringe or wedge issues, the GOP is showing voters across the political spectrum that they’re listening and working to improve quality of life for all citizens.
The GOP is Avoiding Wedge Social Issues
While the GOP has pulled back on social issues and placed the economy and national security front and center, Democrats have done exactly the opposite. Democrats are exasperating moderates and independents with fringe issues a majority of voters simply don’t prioritize. It’s hard to get elected as a Democrat without pandering to niche social justice causes, but according to the numbers, Democrats are wasting time with most voters. As shown below, well over half of voters are satisfied with gay rights and the position of women in the US.
| Issue Category | Satisfied | Unsatisfied |
| position of women in US | 63% | 36% |
| gay rights | 56% | 40% |
Healthcare and Poverty Remain Key Challenges for Republicans
However, the GOP has work to do to continue solving problems voters are unsatisfied with. The issues with the lowest levels of voter satisfaction are poverty and homelessness, affordable healthcare, and campaign finance reform, all of which Democrats tend to prioritize.
| Issue Category | Satisfied | Unsatisfied |
| wealth inequality | 43% | 56% |
| gun policies | 42% | 55% |
| corporate power and influence | 41% | 58% |
| race issues | 36% | 58% |
| affordable healthcare | 37% | 60% |
| campaign finance laws | 23% | 53% |
| poverty and homelessness | 22% | 75% |
The GOP has made issues voters across the political spectrum prioritize the focus of the party, and it has worked. Republicans have also avoided wasting time on fringe issues with minimal interest or wedge social issues. Strengthening the military, reworking trade deals in favor of the US, working to secure the border, and increasing economic opportunity through lower taxes are major accomplishments that improve life for most Americans. However, in order to appeal to moderates and Independents, the GOP needs to meet Democrats head on with solutions to issues like healthcare. Republicans can continue to build a broad coalition of voter loyalty by doing three simple things: prioritizing bipartisan economic and safety issues, allowing Democrats to chase down losing wedge issues, and offering superior solutions to poverty and healthcare.
