Democrats are showing signs of weakness as Republicans notch voter registration gains in key swing states ahead of the 2026 midterms.
CNN data analyst Harry Enten highlighted the GOP’s advances, noting the numbers point to growing trouble for Democrats. Looking at the data from Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, Enten said, “The Republican Party is in their best position at this point in the cycle since at least 2005, in all four of these key battleground states.”
Enten noted GOP voter registration has risen three points in Arizona, six in Nevada, and eight in both North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
“Are there any bright spots for Democrats? Have they picked up any ground since January 1 in terms of party registration? I’m not seeing it in these key swing states, these four key swing states. That’s what we’re talking about: party registration margin gain since January 1, 2025,” Enten said last week. “The Democratic brand is in about as good a position as the Cracker Barrel rebrand.”
PLAY:
Re: party registration, the Dem brand has about the same appeal with the American voter right now as the Cracker Barrel rebrand does with the American consumer. Bad, Bad, Bad.
GOP is in its best position in the 4 key swing states with party reg (AZ, NV, NC & PA) in 20+ years. pic.twitter.com/ZWmtnkupuV
— (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) August 26, 2025
Fewer than 1 percent of Democrats say they are satisfied with the state and direction of the United States, a record low, according to a new Gallup survey.
Satisfaction among Democrats collapsed after President Donald Trump’s reelection last November, falling from just under 50 percent before the election to below 10 percent immediately afterward. Republican sentiment moved in the opposite direction, soaring to more than 70 percent after sitting near zero at the end of former President Joe Biden’s term.
The latest Gallup figures show 76 percent of Republicans remain satisfied with the country’s direction, a level largely unchanged since Election Day. The resulting 76-point partisan gap is the widest Gallup has ever recorded, though such divides have been a consistent feature of U.S. politics since the early 2000s.
Gallup noted that Republicans were nearly as dissatisfied with the nation’s direction in July 2024 as Democrats are today. At the time, however, the partisan gap stood at 35 points, since 36 percent of Democrats expressed satisfaction.
