After almost 90 years, Gallup will stop conducting presidential approval polls
Gallup has announced it will discontinue presidential approval polling after nearly 90 years, shifting its focus to other research areas.
Gallup, a long-standing organization known for its presidential approval ratings, has declared it will cease conducting approval polls after almost 90 years, marking a significant shift in their research strategy. The organization has measured presidential approval from the era of Franklin D. Roosevelt through to the present day, with these polls providing critical insights into public opinion on elected leaders. Justin McCarthy, a spokesperson for Gallup, noted that the decision aligns with a new corporate strategy aimed at prioritizing research on broader public issues and policies.
Furthermore, Gallup will maintain its annual Gallup World Poll, which surveys public attitudes across approximately 140 countries, indicating the organization's ongoing commitment to global public opinion research despite the termination of presidential approval tracking. This policy shift echoes Gallup's 2015 decision to stop conducting presidential election polling, further indicating a trend of moving away from tracking political races.
The ramifications of this decision are significant as Gallup's approval ratings have historically provided an extensive database that contextualizes American political sentiment. As the organization transitions its focus, it raises questions about the availability of consistent metrics to assess future presidential administrations and how other polling organizations might adapt to fill this gap in political analysis.