Alongside the immigration debate, fresh polling data indicates Republicans are holding — and even widening — their lead on economic issues, a development that stunned CNN’s own data team.
CNN analyst Harry Enten noted that despite months of Democratic messaging about recession fears, tariffs, and stock market volatility, voters continue to trust Republicans more on the economy.
“You would think after all the waves… that Democrats would have this massive lead on the economy. It ain’t so. It ain’t so,” Enten told anchor Kate Bolduan.
In November 2023, Republicans held an 11-point lead when voters were asked which party aligned more closely with their economic views. By mid-2025, that margin still hovered around +8 for Republicans. Other surveys showed an even wider gap: a Reuters/Ipsos poll gave Republicans a 12-point advantage on who has the “better economic plan.”
“This speaks to Democratic problems on the economy better than basically anything that you could possibly look at,” Enten explained, pointing to months of economic uncertainty that nevertheless failed to boost Democratic numbers.
The findings highlight why, even if Donald Trump’s approval ratings are lower than during his early months in office, the GOP remains competitive: its consistent advantage on the economy and growing strength among middle-class voters.
