---
title: "Post-election blues? Democrats’ expectations for 2015 take a dive"
description: "Fewer Americans have high hopes for 2015 than they did for 2014, a change largely driven by greater pessimism among Democrats."
date: "2014-12-31"
authors:
  - name: "Alec Tyson"
    job_title: "Former Associate Director"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/alec-tyson/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2014/12/31/post-election-blues-democrats-expectations-for-2015-take-a-dive/"
---

# Post-election blues? Democrats’ expectations for 2015 take a dive

[![Americans, especially Democrats, less optimistic about 2015](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2014/12/FT_New_Year.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2014/12/11/few-see-quick-cure-for-nations-political-divisions/#publics-not-so-happy-new-year)

The public remains deeply dissatisfied with the way things are going in the country. Just 26% are satisfied with national conditions, while 71% are dissatisfied. And Americans have muted expectations for the year to come: 49% say they think 2015 will be a better year than 2014, while 42% think it will be worse, according to a [survey conducted earlier this month](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2014/12/11/few-see-quick-cure-for-nations-political-divisions/#publics-not-so-happy-new-year). The current ratings are more pessimistic than in recent years, as the public generally takes an optimistic view of the year to come.

A year ago, 56% thought 2014 would be a better year than the last, compared with fewer (35%) who thought it would be worse.

The more negative expectations for 2015 are driven in large part by a shift in views among Democrats. With the Republican Party having gained full control of Congress, 60% of Democrats expect 2015 to be better than 2014 — a drop of 21 points from a year ago when 81% thought 2014 would be better than 2013.

Nonetheless, views among Democrats are brighter than those of Republicans: just 34% of Republicans expect the coming year to be better than the last, little changed from prospective views of 2014 (33% better). In December 2012, following Barack Obama’s reelection, just 22% of Republicans thought 2013 would be a better year than 2012.