Poll: Who Is America’s Most Popular U.S. Senator?

Written by Jon Schweppe

Morning Consult is out with a fresh batch of approval ratings for all 100 U.S. Senators.

Check out the top three most popular senators, as rated by their constituents:

2.) U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)

• 70 percent approve
• 22 percent disapprove

What about the top three most unpopular senators according to disapproval rating?

2.) U.S. Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.)

• 51 percent approve
• 43 percent disapprove

While approval ratings aren’t everything, they certainly point to vulnerability and are especially useful for analyzing the 2018 landscape. I’ve written previously about the GOP’s quest for a filibuster-proof majority — 60 seats — in the U.S. Senate, which would allow Republicans to pass virtually anything they want. Right now, they’re at 52. They would need to win a net +8 seats in 2018 (and keep the U.S. House) in order to achieve this historic mandate.

Below is a list of every vulnerable senator in 2018 with their Morning Consult approval ratings.

Vulnerable Republicans At Risk in 2018

U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-Nev.)

• 43 percent approve
• 32 percent disapprove

Vulnerable Democrats At Risk in 2018

U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.)

• 47 percent approve
• 39 percent disapprove

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)

• 56 percent approve
• 38 percent disapprove

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.)

• 44 percent approve
• 38 percent disapprove

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.)

• 47 percent approve
• 38 percent disapprove

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.)

• 40 percent approve
• 36 percent disapprove

U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.)

• 50 percent approve
• 36 percent disapprove

U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.)

• 57 percent approve
• 33 percent disapprove

U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.)

• 57 percent approve
• 32 percent disapprove

U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.)

• 60 percent approve
• 32 percent disapprove

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio)

• 52 percent approve
• 30 percent disapprove

U.S. Senator Bob Casey Jr. (D-Pa.)

• 49 percent approve
• 29 percent disapprove

U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.)

• 46 percent approve
• 26 percent disapprove

U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D-Fla.)

• 53 percent approve
• 26 percent disapprove

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)

• 63 percent approve
• 26 percent disapprove

There is good news and bad news on this list.

The good news? Some of the current seats held by Democrats that may have seemed like reaches six months ago appear to be very competitive. U.S. Sens. McCaskill (Missouri), Warren (Massachusetts), Baldwin (Wisconsin), Stabenow (Michigan), Menendez (New Jersey), and Kaine (Virginia) all register somewhat high disapproval ratings.

The bad news? Some of the “gimme” seats aren’t “gimmes” at all. U.S. Sens. Heitkamp (North Dakota), Manchin (West Virginia), and Tester (Montana) are all enjoying strong favorability ratings, despite being Democrats in red states that voted overwhelmingly for Donald Trump.

Republicans will have their work cut out for them to get to 60 seats. It’s going to take top-notch candidates, a lot of sweat equity, and, oh, millions and millions of dollars.

But if Republicans manage to succeed, the reward would be well worth it. It’s hard to imagine Mitch McConnell being bothered by his temporary “most unpopular senator in the country” designation if it also came with a license to pass any bill he wanted and leave a lasting legacy.

Jon Schweppe is the Communications Director for American Principles Project. Follow him on Twitter @JonSchweppe

This article was originally posted on TheNationalPulse.com