House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's approval ratings have done nothing but rise after Democrats trounced Republicans in the midterms, and she pummeled Donald Trump in the shutdown fight. Since Election Day last year, Pelosi's overall favorability rating on Civiqs has risen 11 points, from 27 percent to 38 percent. Some of that increase is due to improvement among independents, where she got a double-digit bump from 16 to 27 percent. But the biggest increase came from her own party—Pelosi's favorables among Democrats have soared nearly 17 points the past couple months, from 59 percent to 76 percent.
Or what about Pelosi's GOP predecessor, Paul Ryan, who at 12 percent favorability was pretty much reduced to enjoying the approval of his wife, kids, dogs, and extended family when he exited Congress.
Adios, Paul.
But forget about Republicans. Pelosi's consolidation of both power and support among Democrats gives her one of the strongest hands in Washington right now. It's a counterbalance to Trump our nation badly needs, and one that she has been wielding expertly.
