CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten on Monday explained Republicans lead Democrats on key issues heading into the 2026 midterm elections.
A Washington Post/Ipsos poll conducted Sept. 11 to 15 found the Republicans lead Democrats by 7% on the economy, 13% on immigration and 22% on crime. Enten said on “CNN News Central” that Democrats should not be reassured about their chances just because President Donald Trump tends to be “underwater” in his polling, comparing the party’s standing to the 2022 midterms when Republicans took control of the House of Representatives.
WATCH:
“Let’s compare it back to 2022. I think this kind of gives away the game right here. The GOP is more trusted than the Dems on the economy. It was 12 points in 2022. Slight, slight decline in that lead but still seven points,” Enten told host Kate Bolduan. “How about immigration? It was Republicans by three back in 2022. Look at this. The Republican lead has actually gone up by 10 points. What are you doing, Democrats? My goodness gracious.”
“And on crime, the Republicans were up by 13 and now they’re up by 22,” he continued. “The lead again expanding by nearly double digits. So whatever Democrats are doing, it ain’t working, Kate. It ain’t working. Republicans have the lead on all three issues.”
Bolduan asked Enten what he believed was causing the shift.
“It’s all about the center of the electorate, right? You win with independents, you win overall,” Enten said. “And what do we see right here among independents? Republicans still have a point lead on the economy. They got a 10-point lead on immigration. They got a 21-point lead on crime.”
“The bottom line is when you look at these numbers, Democrats should call their offices because at this particular point, even if the public doesn’t like what Donald Trump is doing, they ain’t necessarily liking what Democrats are doing,” he added. “And it ain’t just a referendum on one party. You actually have to go out and beat that party at this particular point. Democrats are not able to beat Republicans.”
The Trump administration has achieved four straight months without paroling a single illegal migrant into the country. Moreover, the president’s crackdown on crime in Washington, D.C., has coincided with a significant decline in violent crime.
The Federal Reserve finally cut interest rates by a quarter-point on Wednesday as job growth has decelerated and inflation continues to be above the Fed’s 2% target.
Furthermore, former President Joe Biden’s health decline and disastrous reelection bid continue to dog the Democratic Party as it looks ahead to the 2026 midterms, especially as former Vice President Kamala Harris prepares to publish her book, “107 Days” on Sept. 23, The Washington Post reported on Sept. 15.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact [email protected].
