Dominican President Luis Abinader holds a narrow approval rating of 50.2 percent compared to 48.2 percent who disapprove of his performance, according to the latest national public opinion survey by ACD Media.
The survey results show a tightly divided electorate, with Abinader leading by just two percentage points. Overall approval for the Dominican government stands slightly higher at 51.3 percent, while 47 percent of respondents express disapproval.
Support for the wider cabinet drops significantly below the president's personal rating. Only 42.7 percent of respondents view the performance of cabinet officials positively, compared to 53.5 percent who view it negatively. Abinader outpaces his cabinet's positive rating by 7.5 percentage points, indicating personal political support that does not automatically transfer to his administration.
Ratings of past Dominican presidents
Despite the narrow majority, Abinader maintains personal strengths when evaluated alongside former Dominican leaders. Asked to rate the country's last four presidents, 35.9 percent of respondents identified Abinader as the most honest, 35.1 percent viewed him as the most concerned for the public, and 34.6 percent rated him as inspiring the most confidence.
Other former leaders led in specific categories. Former President Leonel Fernandez topped the survey for perceived preparation, with 46.9 percent of respondents selecting him. Former President Danilo Medina led in perceived efficiency, receiving 36.5 percent of support from those surveyed.
Public expectations and survey methodology
The survey highlights growing public pessimism regarding the national outlook. When asked about the current situation of the Dominican Republic, 48.7 percent of respondents rated it positively and 49.5 percent rated it negatively. However, only 18.7 percent expect conditions to improve in the near future, while 36.6 percent believe things will worsen and 42.3 percent expect conditions to remain the same.
Nearly eight out of ten Dominicans do not expect short-term improvement, leaving the president governing over a divided population with low expectations. ACD Media noted that while Abinader's personal popularity remains a key strength, it has become the primary political support for a government rated lower than its leader.
Fieldwork for the ACD Media National Public Opinion Survey was conducted between August 8 and August 11, 2026. The poll surveyed a national sample of 1,200 people and has a 95 percent confidence level.
