CNN rolled out a fresh survey that wipes the smile off the Democrats’ face and undercuts the whole “Republicans doomed” script. The data shows Americans trust Republicans more on the issues that actually move elections: the economy, crime, and immigration. If you care about winning, numbers like this matter more than media wishful thinking.
Harry Enten from CNN walked viewers through the tallies and did what any fair analyst should: call out the obvious. He spelled out the core question exactly: “Trust the Dems or GOP more on” the following: the economy, immigration, and crime. That framing turns the debate into a test voters actually understand.
Then came the meat of the poll, and it was brutal for Democrats. “Who leads on the economy? Republicans by seven points,” Enten said, a clear edge on the pocketbook issue that decides most elections. “Immigration? Republicans by thirteen points.”
On crime the gap was even starker, and Enten did not mince words. “How about crime? A big issue for Donald Trump and the Republican Party. Look at that. Lead by twenty-two points,” he said, pointing out a problem Democrats ignore at their peril. He capped it with a direct takeaway: “So, the bottom line is this…At this particular point, it’s the Republicans who are running with the ball on the top issues, the economy, immigration, and crime.”
Those are not vague impressions or partisan chest-beating; those are measurable advantages on the issues voters name as most important. Independents, who decide the close races, are siding with Republicans on each of the three categories. That pattern alone explains why doom-and-gloom for the GOP on the midterms is premature and, frankly, tone deaf.
Enten also compared these numbers to the last time the GOP flipped the House in 2022 and the trend was unmistakable. The GOP’s lead on immigration jumped, and their lead on crime nearly doubled. “The Republican lead has actually gone up by ten points,” he observed, a sober tally that should make Democrats rethink their messaging and priorities.
The CNN analyst was blunt in a line that will sting Democrats: “What are you DOING, Democrats?” That rhetorical question isn’t just a soundbite; it captures the reality that continued obstruction, tone deaf cultural fights, and ignoring core voter concerns creates openings. Voters reward results and clear positions on everyday threats to safety and prosperity.
Look at the policies that are winning in public opinion: an economy humming in key areas, tougher enforcement on crime, and immigration controls that voters feel actually secure their communities. Republican proposals and Trump administration actions on ICE enforcement and crime responses are resonating with people who want order and fairness, not lectures. Political operatives can argue about strategy, but the public is already judging outcomes.
Some will point to a president’s approval number and try to read doom for his party into it. That misses the point that governing coalitions and issue trust are what win midterms. Voters will tolerate a lot if they think their lives are improving and their neighborhoods are safer, and right now the poll says Republicans own those perceived advantages.
Beyond the survey itself, there are structural shifts worth watching that favor Republican prospects. Changing registration patterns in many states show Democrats bleeding ground while the GOP gains steam, and that kind of demographic shift alters the baseline before a single ad airs. When districts are less competitive and turnout dynamics favor one party, the map does the heavy lifting.
A recent study by a nonpartisan data company of the 30 states that register by party found that since 2020, all 30 had a drop in registered Democrats while 22 had increases in Republicans, a jumbo swing of 4.5 million voters.
Another revealing stat: Currently, of the 435 voting House representatives, fully 419 are members of the party whose presidential candidate won that district. This makes fewer races genuinely competitive, which would hurt Democrat swing opportunities this time.
Translation: even if a few national numbers look rough for Republicans on the surface, the underlying map and issue trust tell a different story. Voters are signaling that they do not trust Democrats to fix what most Americans see as real-world problems. That disconnect is the real danger for the left heading into the midterms.
Republicans should not get cocky; politics changes fast and elections are contests of organization, message, and turnout. But leaders also need to recognize when public opinion rewards their platform and lean into it with clarity and discipline. Winning the argument on safety, borders, and economic confidence is a pathway to holding and expanding power.
Democrats, meanwhile, are paying a price for prioritizing pet agendas that energize a base but alienate independents and working voters. The party appears more focused on elite cultural fights than on pocketbook and safety issues that define everyday life for most Americans. That strategic mismatch is what today’s polling exposes.
Bottom line: the new survey strips away the broadcast narrative that Republicans are doomed and instead points to a clear, winnable path for conservatives. If Republicans play to those strengths and keep turning issues into results, the midterms will reflect what the poll shows now: a GOP with momentum and voters who trust it to deliver.
Editor’s Note: The Democrat Party has never been less popular as voters reject its globalist agenda. Help us continue exposing Democrats’ plans and support coverage that holds them accountable; use promo code FIGHT to save on VIP membership.
Katie Jerkovich covers politics, culture, and entertainment and has written for multiple conservative outlets. Tags: 2026 ELECTIONS, CRIME, DONALD TRUMP, ECONOMY, ICE, REPUBLICAN PARTY.
n
h/t: Red State
n
