CNN data guru Harry Enten posed a pointed question to President Donald Trump and the Republican Party on Friday.
Enten, who was recently called out by Trump in a CNBC interview earlier this week, pointed to a new “warning sign” that has emerged against the GOP.
“I would just say, ‘Uh oh!’ for them,” Enten said. “That is the phrase of the day — ‘Uh oh!’”
Enten pointed to how Democrats have expanded their lead since the spring on generic congressional ballots, according to new polling. The polls typically ask respondents to pick the political party they would vote for — without naming specific candidates running for a seat — ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
According to Enten, a previous CNBC poll, which found that Democrats led Republicans by 2 percentage points, now has the Democratic Party ahead by five. An Ipsos poll recorded a one-point lead by Democrats, but it has since moved to four. And a poll from The Wall Street Journal showed a two-point gain, from one to three.
“Now the average lead here is four, which is up from just about a point. That’s about a three-point move, on average, in the Democrats’ direction,” Enten explained.
Enten said that the new numbers may raise one question among Americans: “Are Republicans wanting to change the lines because they are losing…?”
“At this point, Democrats are winning. Republicans are losing. And maybe they’re trying to change the lines in order to give themselves a little bit more of a wiggle room given what we’re seeing: a clear Democratic moment on a generic congressional ballot,” he added.
Enten appeared to reference a plan unfolding in Texas as Republicans, backed by Trump, look to pass a redrawing of the state’s congressional map, which could potentially pick up at least five more safe GOP seats ahead of next year. More than 50 Democrats had fled the Lone Star State, successfully blocking Republicans from voting on Monday by denying the necessary two-thirds quorum.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) urged the FBI on Tuesday to find and arrest the Democratic lawmakers who were absent when the Legislature’s lower chamber reconvened. Trump, who previously claimed that Republicans are “entitled” to more congressional seats, said that the agency “may have to” help round up the band.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and several other Republican Texas officials, including Attorney General Ken Paxton, had demanded for their return or face consequences. Abbott claimed that the Democrats could be committing felonies if they fundraise to pay for $500-a-day fines from skipping the session.
Enten also found that party identification is moving more toward Democrats.
“What you’re seeing is clear movement towards the Democratic Party on a very key metric, because if you’re identifying as Democratic, you’re far more likely to vote for the Democrat. If you’re identifying as Republican, you’re far more likely to vote Republican,” Enten said.
“And I will note that this is a change from last year, especially among Gallup, when Republicans held a rare lead heading into the 2024 election, and that of course foreshadowed Donald Trump winning, foreshadowed Republicans taking the House, taking the Senate,” he continued.
The median Democrat, based on special elections this year, is also outperforming former Vice President Kamala Harris by 13 percentage points, when comparing results to her 2024 presidential election loss, according to Enten.
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