In a major boost for the Democratic Presidential nominee, Kamala Harris has reached her highest approval ratings in more than two years, according to a recent opinion poll.
As the Nov. 5 election draws closer, the vice president’s growing popularity is fueling optimism within her campaign.
Harris, who stepped up as the Democratic Party’s nominee after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race due to health concerns, is now leading the charge to secure the presidency.
New data from 538 shows her approval rating steadily climbing in recent months, with the latest survey, conducted on Sept. 25, indicating a 44.9% approval rating — a figure she hasn’t seen since May 2021. Her disapproval rating has simultaneously dropped to 47.6%.
This marks a notable improvement from earlier in the year. In January 2023, Harris’s approval rating dipped to a low of 37.4%, while 55.5% disapproved of her performance. Her approval rating struggled to recover throughout the year, hovering below 40% until Biden’s decision to step aside propelled her into the spotlight.
As Harris took the reins of the Democratic campaign, her approval rating began to climb, reaching 40.5% in August. Over the ensuing months, her numbers continued to rise, reflecting growing public support for her candidacy.
However, despite these gains, Harris’s approval ratings remain lower than the peak she enjoyed in May 2021, when 48.1% of voters approved of her performance as vice president.
Another poll tracking public opinion shows a similar trend. The survey, titled “Do Americans have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Kamala Harris?”, reveals that more Americans now view Harris favorably (47.3%) than unfavorably (46.5%). This marks a significant shift from earlier polls, which consistently showed more unfavorable opinions.
Harris’s rise in popularity comes at a crucial time, as voter intention polls suggest a tight race against her Republican opponent, Donald Trump.
Although Harris currently holds a slight lead, some battleground states remain too close to call.
In comparison, Trump’s favorability ratings have remained relatively stable. The latest survey, conducted on Sept. 27, shows 42.9% of voters hold a favorable opinion of Trump, while 52.6% hold an unfavorable view — figures that have remained consistent over recent years.
As the election nears, all eyes are on Harris as she continues to close the gap between her approval and disapproval ratings. If current trends persist, she could enter Election Day with a favorable majority of public support.
