Except for Vice President Mike Pence, the last four U.S. vice presidents have seen their approval ratings above water at the end of their first year in office. Recent polling shows Vice President Kamala Harris has dropped to the lowest level for a vice president in the last 27 years. As of Dec. 21, 2021, 52% disapproved of her job performance, while only 40% approved. That’s a net -12%, and her lowest level since taking office in January. It’s also 2.3% lower than President Joe Biden’s approval rating: he now sits at a net -9.9% disapproval.
At the end of his first year in office, Vice President Al Gore’s net favorability stood in the high twenties; in comparison, VP Harris is 40.8 points below his standing. Harris trails Vice President Cheney at this comparable moment by 53.8 points. In 2009, he stood at a net 8% positive approval. She trails then-Vice President Joe Biden’s numbers at the end of 2009 by 18.2 points today. At the end of 2017, even then-Vice President Mike Pence was 7.1 points in terms of net favorability ahead of where Harris is today.
A YouGovAmerica poll provides greater demographic-based insight into the state of public opinion Harris. By age, her highest approval (45%) comes from those 65 and older. The greatest disapproval is with those between 45 and 64, among whom 58% of voters disapprove of her job performance. Forty-seven percent of those under 30 disapprove, and 51% of those from 30-44 disapprove. Among women, Harris is above water, with 47% approval to 43% disapproval. Only 31% of men approve, while 64% disapprove. By race, white and Hispanic voters support Harris at 36% and 37%, respectively. Sixty percent of Hispanic voters disapprove of Harris’ job performance, while 58% of white voters disapprove. Sixty-seven percent of Black voters approve of the vice president, while 19% disapprove.
Among Democrats, Harris holds an 81% approval rating and 14% disapproval. The opposite is true among Republicans, where 94% disapprove of her job performance and roughly 3% approve. Harris’ most significant problem is with Independents, where she stands at 61% disapproval and only 27% approval. The Biden-Harris Administration has remained deeply unpopular with most Americans. At the close of their first year in office, this administration has little to show policy gains delivered and campaign promises fulfilled. The Vice President has even less.
