CNN senior political data reporter Harry Enten highlighted on Friday how the Democratic Party continues to struggle with finding new leadership and maintain voter support after their November defeat.
During a segment on CNN News Central, host Kate Bolduan discussed former Vice President Kamala Harris breaking her silence in a recent interview with Stephen Colbert. Harris addressed her decision not to run for governor of California and left open the possibility of a 2028 presidential bid.
However, Enten suggested that the Democrats’ search for a leader is far from settled. He described the party as “historically divided,” comparing its internal state to being “messier than a hoarder’s basement.”
Enten went on to say, “The water is quite warm. If you’re a Democrat potentially thinking about running in 2028, jump right in, because at this point there is no frontrunner.”
He explained part of the reason for this leadership vacuum: “Nobody wants to put anybody up at the top of their ballot list because, at this particular point, the Democratic brand is in the basement.”
Citing three similar polls, Enten pointed out the party’s poor public standing: “The Democratic Party is perceived as total and complete garbage in the mind of the American public. The Democratic Party‘s net favorable rating is at record lows in all three. Wall Street Journal, 30 points underwater. CNN, 26 points underwater. Gallup, 26 points underwater.
Enten attributed much of the party’s woes to dissatisfaction within its own base: “That is being driven in large part by discontent within the Democratic base. The Democratic base wants something different. We’ll ultimately end up seeing who they choose. It will be quite the thing who ultimately gets the rose.”
