AP-NORC Poll: 6 in 10 Americans Blame Republicans for Record Shutdown

An AP-NORC poll released October 16, 2025 found that approximately 60 percent of Americans held Republicans responsible for the record 43-day government shutdown. The poll showed public opinion had shifted significantly against the GOP over the course of the shutdown, with independents moving decisively toward blaming Republican leadership and President Trump. The findings underscored the political vulnerability of the GOP strategy.