CNN Data Guru Drops ‘Reality Check’ on Democrats Hoping to Take Back House Majority: ‘Not Anywhere Close’
by Frank Bergman
With just one year to go before the 2026 midterms, CNN senior data reporter Harry Enten has issued a stark warning to Democrats hoping to take back the House during the next election cycle.
Enten dropped a “reality check” on the Democrats by revealing that the party is lagging behind historical trends, and the path to victory may not be as secure as they hope.
On Wednesday, Enten pointed out that while Democrats are currently leading Republicans by a narrow two points in the generic congressional ballot, this margin is far lower than where the party was at this time in previous midterm cycles, specifically in 2006 and 2018.
Both of those years were blue waves for Democrats.
According to Enten, the Democrats’ current position is dramatically weaker than it was in July 2005 and July 2017.
At the time, they held a solid seven-point lead ahead of midterm elections in those years.
“Democrats are behind their 2006 and 2018 paces when it comes to the generic congressional ballot,” Enten said on “CNN News Central.”
“Look at where we are now—Democrats are ahead, but by just two points. In 2017, they were ahead by seven points.
“In 2005, they were ahead by seven points.
“And now, they’re only ahead by two points?
“That lead is less than half of where it was in either 2017 or 2005, the year before the midterm elections.”
Despite President Donald Trump’s unpopularity among the Left, Enten emphasized that Democrats have failed to solidify their hold on voters at this point in the cycle.