CNN analyst Harry Enten appeared surprised Monday at new polling data indicating that the Democratic Party has not gained any ground on its messaging to voters regarding the economy.

Enten noted that the Republican Party’s advantage comes amid criticism of President Donald Trump’s enactment of tariffs. While he argued that one would think voters would align more closely with the Democratic Party after more than four months of Trump’s leadership, new CNN polling data indicated this was not the case, as the Republican Party had an 8-point advantage over its competition as of May.

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“How is that possible, Democrats? How is that possible?” Enten stated. “After all the recession fears, after the stock market’s been doing all of this, after all the tariffs that Americans are against, and Republicans still hold an 8-point lead on the economy? Are you kidding me?”

Enten pointed to a separate Reuters/IPSOS poll with data showing the Republican Party’s economic plan grew in favorability by 3 percentage points over a year, going from 9% in May 2024 to 12% last month. He added that the data “speaks to Democratic problems on the economy,” calling it “the all-important key issue of the day.”

Beyond the economy, CNN’s poll also found that the Republican Party had “completely closed the gap” regarding voters’ thoughts on which party more closely reflects the middle class.

“Donald Trump and the Republican Party have taken that mantle away, and now a key advantage for Democrats historically has gone, ‘Adios, amigos,’ and now there is no party that is the party of the middle class,” Enten stated. “Republicans have completely closed the gap.”

The CNN poll surveyed 2,539 recipients from May 5 through May 26, and had a plus-or-minus 2.7-point margin of error.

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The data come as both parties are gearing up for the 2026 midterm elections, in which Democrats will seek to reclaim both the House of Representatives and the Senate from Republicans. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), however, has said he is optimistic that his party can expand its narrow majority next year if House and Senate Republicans remain united on passing legislation.

Last month, Washington Examiner columnist Joe Concha assessed that, if the economy is doing well, it is very possible that Democrats will have “nothing to run on” in the 2026 midterm elections. Likewise, Stephen A. Smith has suggested the Republican Party will win the midterm elections if Trump succeeds in his tariff war against China.