Harry Enten, a senior data analyst for CNN, provided a stark assessment of the current state of congressional Democrats during a Thursday analysis. He noted that many within the party are discontented, signaling a troubling trend for future elections. According to a CNN/SSRS poll, over 70 percent of American voters and 55 percent of Democrats believe their party’s leaders are out of touch with the priorities of their constituents.
These figures reflect a significant decline in the Democratic Party’s approval ratings compared to prior midterm election years. Enten observed, “You might say, OK, well, at least Dems like Democrats. Not the case,” pointing out that a majority of self-identified Democrats are actually independents who lean toward the party. Alarmingly, only 45 percent of Democrats feel that their congressional leaders have the right priorities—a number that indicates a serious disconnect between party leadership and its base.
Enten’s comments highlight the gravity of the situation. He remarked, “This to me just jumps out at the screen because it screams primary challenges all over the map.” The dissatisfaction is twofold: even as Democrats express opposition to Donald Trump, they harbor frustration toward their own party’s leadership in Congress.
He cited a dismal net approval rating of -4 points for congressional Democrats, which is a sharp drop from their net approval ratings of +28 and +19 points seen in 2006 and 2018, respectively. Enten emphasized that such low numbers could pave the way for contentious primary challenges during the 2026 midterms. He stated, “So Democrat on Democrat crime. Absolutely.” This suggests an intense internal struggle within the party as it heads into critical elections.
Furthermore, the frustration among voters correlates with what experts cite as the party’s failure to effectively confront the Trump administration. Notably, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has faced intense scrutiny for his inability to rally support among Democratic senators on key issues. Enten indicated that Schumer’s chances of retaining his leadership position have plummeted from 65 percent to 50 percent.
In the face of this upheaval, voter approval ratings for congressional Democrats have sunk to historic lows, with a Quinnipiac University survey showing just 18 percent of voters approving of their job performance. The data paints a bleak picture for Democrats in Congress, reflecting a party in turmoil as it grapples with leadership challenges and public discontent. The coming years will likely be pivotal, as the internal divisions within the party threaten to complicate efforts to regain voter trust and stability.
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