CNN data analyst Harry Enten revealed that the Democratic Party has hit a historic low in public favorability, marking one of its worst polling moments in decades—a development that could spell significant trouble for Vice President Kamala Harris and the party’s broader 2024 efforts.
During a recent segment on CNN, Enten broke down the latest data from a Wall Street Journal poll, which found that 63% of voters hold an unfavorable view of the Democratic Party—a net favorability rating of -30 points. He noted that this figure represents the party’s worst showing in over 30 years of available data.
“They are not favorable ratings. I mean, woof—my God,” Enten said, visibly reacting to the numbers. “We did a poll a while back when Democrats were 26 points underwater. You think that’s low? It just got even lower.”
Referencing the Wall Street Journal results, Enten emphasized: “This is the lowest on record. These polls go back to the early 1900s. The Democratic Party is breaking records—but in a way no party wants to.”
The report indicated that only 8% of voters hold a “very favorable” opinion of Democrats, suggesting a deepening disconnect with the public. According to Democratic pollster John Anzalone, the party’s current brand is so damaged that “they don’t have the credibility to be a critic of Trump or the Republican Party.”
“Until they reconnect with real voters and working people on who they’re for and what their economic message is, they’re going to have problems,” Anzalone told the Wall Street Journal.
In contrast, the polling showed Republicans outperforming Democrats on nearly every major policy issue, with healthcare and vaccine policies being the only areas where Democrats held a slight edge.
Vice President Kamala Harris, often viewed as a future leader of the party, has faced challenges boosting her national image—something these latest numbers could make even more difficult.
This grim news comes just weeks after CNN interrupted its programming for breaking coverage on former President Donald Trump’s setbacks in court. During that segment, Enten likened the Trump administration’s legal defeats to “knowing what losing feels like”—drawing parallels to his own experience as a Buffalo Bills fan.
The latest polling news may shift momentum yet again, painting a sobering picture for Democrats heading into the 2026 midterms and beyond. With voter dissatisfaction at record highs, party leaders are under pressure to reshape their message—or risk further erosion of support.
