CNN Data analyst Harry Enten revealed that President Donald Trump is now losing the to a new "Southern Strategy."

For generations, many white Southern voters supported Democrats. But after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, many opposed the national Democratic Party’s new direction. Republican candidates, especially Barry Goldwater and Richard Nixon, sought the support of those voters through what became known as the “Southern Strategy.”

Campaign language shifted away from explicit talk of segregation toward issues such as “states’ rights” and “law and order.” Over the following decades, the strategy helped turn much of the South from a Democratic stronghold into a Republican one.

But new data suggests that support for the parties may be shifting again ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Democratic candidates are pulling ahead in Southern states, including Texas’ James Talarico, Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), and Gov. Roy Cooper (D-N.C.). Enten said the potential Democratic gains could be “potentially historic.”

"The most wins in a year in the former Confederacy, in a midterm, is two," said Enten.

"So, in the 2000s midterm Senate races, we're looking at something historic potentially here. They're up right now in four states, the most wins in a year in the former Confederacy, in a midterm, in 2000, this century is only two. They could potentially win double the amount of races than they have in any midterm cycle this entire century in the southern United States, when you add together Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, and the great Commonwealth of Virginia," said Enten.

Co-host Sidner asked what group is pushing these candidates over the top. Enten said it was coming from white college voters.

There has been a huge demographic shift in over the past 10 years, said Enten. He showed the 2016 polls that revealed just how much ground Republicans had lost in each state.

Among white college voters, North Carolina shifted from Republicans up by 19 to Democrats up by 13. Texas has shifted from Republicans up 31 points to being up only by 1 percent. Georgia Republicans were up 41 percent, and this election hold just a 13-point lead.

"The odds are moving in the Democrats' direction. Republicans were 56 percent chance a month ago. Now it's basically dead," said Enten. "Even 51 percent chance to 49 percent chance. So Democrats are very much in the game because of these southern races."

CNN data analyst Harry Enten found a buried nugget in recent numbers showing just how much even Republicans have abandoned President Donald Trump on some issues.

Speaking to host John Berman, Enten explained that it isn't merely Trump's scores on handling the war in Iran; it's just how far they've fallen in the last two years.

"You know, sometimes I look at the polling data, and I find a surprising nugget, one that I honestly didn't think existed," said Enten. "But then I dug deep enough and found it. And, you know, there was a great poll question: feelings on Trump and Iran handling Iran. You know, back in July of 2024, 53 percent of voters said they were extremely motivated to vote [also] said they were actually confident, confident that Trump would be able to handle the situation in Iran. Look at where that number is now when it comes to his approval among the same group."

According to the CNN/Pew survey, that number has fallen to 29 percent, a nearly 25 percent drop in just two years.

Enten called it a "giant fall."

"Promises were made, and promises were not kept. They were broken as far as those voters were concerned," said Enten.

Berman called it fascinating to see because Trump "would go on the stump and talk about Iran because it was a net positive issue for him now. Now, it is a negative issue."

Enten agreed, "Republicans wish he would keep quiet about it."

Taking the numbers to a deeper level, Enten explained that they aren't simply about the president, but GOP lawmakers as a whole.

"Party trusted more on wars, conflicts and terrorism: Back in January of 2025, look at this. Republicans were ahead by 18 points. A tremendous advantage. That advantage, because of President Trump, has turned into a disadvantage on a core key question that almost always favors Republicans," Enten said.

He explained that Democrats now enjoy a two-point advantage over Republicans.

"That is a 20-point move that we're seeing towards the Democrats as the Republicans go down, because down goes President Trump. They are simpatico on this one," Enten added.

President Donald Trump is facing backlash from his own Republican Party over key issues including the war in Iran and inflation, CNN’s data expert Harry Enten revealed Tuesday.

In a segment about the non-MAGA wing of the Republicans Party, Enten told CNN’s Kate Bolduan there’s one word that sums up Trump’s approval among moderate Republicans: “Yikes.”

“Yikes is the word,” Enten said Tuesday before flashing the data on screen.

“This is the moderate GOP on Trump, this includes leaners,” Enten explained. “This is about 30-to-40 percent of the party, depending on how you look at it. Versus [former Vice President] Kamala Harris, Trump easily was winning amongst them by 69 points back in October of 2024 … Right now we're talking about just a plus-ten net approval rating. This is within his own party. He's just barely above water.”

“That's a 59-point drop … in the course of under two years,” Enten continued. “So moderate Republicans are abandoning Donald John Trump. And that is a big ‘uh oh.’”

Asked why Trump is struggling with Republican voters, Enten explained “It's the economy.”

On that issue, Trump has experienced a 77-point drop, according to Enten.

The CNN data analyst showed a graphic of moderate GOP voters on Trump "and the economy back in October of 2024."

"[Trump] was more trusted than Kamala Harris by 80 points,” Enten said. "Now he's just one, two, three points above water. That is, as I said, a 77-point drop on the key issue that got Donald Trump reelected to a second term.”

“Moderate Republicans have abandoned Donald Trump, and now he is just treading water with a group that overwhelmingly supported him,” Enten added.

“Inflation was the name of the game with the economy back in 2020,” the CNN data analyst explained. “For now, moderate Republicans, who make up roughly 30-to-40 percent of the party, have absolutely left Donald Trump aside. And he is underwater on the key issue of the day. If I'm a Republican running for congress in those swing districts, I need those moderate Republicans, and they are leaving Donald Trump.”

CNN data analyst Harry Enten on Wednesday warned Republicans can expect to say "adiós" to their majority if gas prices remain high through the midterm elections.

Wednesday marks 76 days until the Nov. 3 election, and one of the biggest problems for Republicans ballot is that those who are angry with both parties are breaking for Democratic candidates.

Enten showed that in the choice for House races, Democrats were preferred to Republicans 49 percent of the time, while Republicans were only chosen by 26 percent of voters dissatisfied by both parties.

It all goes back to the economy, said Enten.

In a CBS/YouGov poll, the anti-party sentiment centers on issues like policies around cost of living. According to voters' attitudes about Democratic policies, 36 percent believe that Democratic policies help, while 38 percent believe they hurt. While 24 percent believe that Republican policies help the cost of living, a whopping 55 percent say they don't.

The top issue of the day, Enten said, all goes back to affordability — and fuel prices are a big piece of that. Amid claims that there is no deal between Iran and the U.S., oil prices shot up again.

Enten also looked at the prediction markets and noted where they believe gas prices will sit as the election approaches.

"Chance that the gas prices on election day are above $3.50 per gallon, look at this: 81 percent chance, according to the prediction market, that number up like a rocket. This is why ... Americans think that Republicans hurt them on the cost of living. This number holds — this number, right, well, I'll tell you this much: Adiós, amigos, goodbye, see you later [to] that Republican House majority, and maybe that Senate majority as well," Enten said.

Prices for groceries, housing, health care and energy costs remain central worries for Americans, with many households saying they are only getting by or struggling. Democrats have gained ground in the 2026 cycle by emphasizing lower everyday costs and health care, while dissatisfaction with Trump’s handling of inflation and the economy has weakened the GOP’s traditional advantage. Still, the edge is narrow rather than decisive: a recent poll found 54 percent trusted Democrats more on the economy, versus 45 percent for Republicans, while another found near parity between the parties

President Donald Trump continues to lose ground with key voting groups outside of his MAGA base. It's become so bad that CNN data analyst Harry Enten called it "laughably bad."

While the economy is slowing, inflation is on the rise. Enten was asked by host Sara Sidner just how bad things were for the president, who won his 2024 election on inflation and the economy.

"Sara, the numbers are laughably bad. They are laughably bad. But no one is laughing about these because just take a look here. Trump's not up on inflation. Our latest CNN poll that has been coming out over the last few days, the net approval minus disapproval: 50 points underwater," Enten explained.

He said he checked polls for every past president he could find and discovered that there has never been a president "who had ratings this bad."

"That's an over 50-point shift from where we were before the election, where, of course, President Trump was more trusted on inflation than Kamala Harris, which is why he got a second term," Enten said.

Sidner called it "insane."

"Not only on gas prices, which of course is part of this equation, right? I mean, as I said, laughably bad. You just don't ever see numbers like this," said Enten.

Questions like whether America is on the right track or wrong track now has 70 percent of voters willing to say the U.S. is on the "wrong track." The "right track" number is just 16 percent. A stunning 50 percent of Republicans agreed it was on the wrong track.

"No wonder that President Trump is putting up historic numbers in the wrong direction when it comes to inflation," said Enten.

Republicans also believe that Trump is focused on the wrong things (58 percent) and should instead deal with lowering costs. The overall number is 78 percent of Americans who believe he should deal with the affordability crisis.

Enten noted that prediction markets thought that the Federal Reserve would raise interest rates because of the increase in inflation, and at least three governors on the board did support raising the rate. In the end, however, new Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh kept the numbers unchanged.

"While the decision to stand pat could be seen as good news for consumers, they might not feel much relief with the average credit card rate still near 20 percent and mortgage rates the highest since last August," reported PBS News on Thursday after the announcement.

As of the end of August, polls show that President Donald Trump is 21 points underwater.

CNN data analyst walked through where Trump stood with Americans since May on CNN Friday.

According to Harry Enten, Trump's ratings are so bad that he's "stuck" in the basement.

"How low does he go?!" Enten kicked off the segment. "Well, this is a president who is stuck on empty. Stuck on neutral. Whatever kind of gas analogy you want to make."

Prediction markets show a 46 percent likelihood that there will be a Democratic sweep in November.

"The president's approval rating, simply put, is low. His net approval rating is low. It is staying low, and there is no sign he's getting out of the basement. He's stuck on the ground," said Enten.

CNN host John Berman said that it's only the end of August, "surely" there's some way that Trump could come back from such horrific numbers.

He compared it to former President George W. Bush, who lost his huge majority after the September 11 attacks.

"Surely, you can't be serious!" mocked Enten. "He is stuck in the mud, and there's no reason for me to believe he will get himself out of the mud."

He explained that over the past 20 years, midterm polling for the president hasn't shifted that much, on average.

With less than 70 days before the election, Enten said that it's clear he's "stuck" because the approval has been down anywhere from 18 to 20 points. Enten said he simply doesn't see it going anywhere.

The new "Strength in Numbers/Verasight" poll published Thursday found that only 37 percent of Americans who approve of his job performance and 60 percent disapprove.

Trump's weakest rating is on prices and inflation, where net approval fell to a record −48; only 24 percent approve of his handling of costs. Border security, formerly his strongest issue, has now also slipped to −5. Democrats lead the generic congressional ballot 49–43 and are trusted more on eight of 12 issues, including prices, jobs, health care and education. The White House disputed the poll’s implications, citing its economic record.

The most significant impact may be turnout: poor presidential approval can energize opposition voters, discourage the president’s party’s voters and make independents more willing to vote Democratic. It will certainly make the November 3rd election difficult for Republicans.

Democrats need a net gain of four seats to control the Senate chamber and must defend vulnerable seats of their own. Key competitive contests include Alaska, Iowa, Maine, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas, while Michigan and Georgia remain crucial Democratic holds.

President Donald Trump is in a huge spiral with his own supporters, data analyst Harry Enten explained on Friday.

Speaking to CNN host John Berman, Enten explained that non-college voters were a key constituency for Trump in all of his elections. That's not the case anymore. Now it appears the president is losing support.

In Oct. 2024, Trump was up with non-college voters in the MAGA movement by 8 points. Now, Trump is 22 points underwater, a Marquette Law School survey revealed. It's a 28-point swing.

"So the bottom line is this: The group in which the Trump movement was built upon — they are shifting away and saying, we don't like MAGA anymore," Enten said.

Over the past several months, as Trump has lost support among non-MAGA Republicans and Independents, he was still able to maintain support among his MAGA loyalists. That's no longer true.

"In the 2024 election, he won them by 13 points. Right?" Enten said about non-college voters. "That was the reason he won. He won among non-college voters a very strong performance amongst them. And that, of course, was the reason he was able to win because college voters were against him. But look at this now, minus 19 points! Minus 19 points! We're talking about an even bigger shift here."

He calculated it's a 32-point shift away from Trump in his "key core political group."

According to Enten, "This is why he's in so much trouble. It's not just that college voters are against Trump. Now, it turns out that non-college voters, the ones that he built his presidential bid on, have waved adios, goodbye. See you later, Mr. Trump. We don't like you anymore."

Enten was asked whether that translates to support for Democrats or opposition to Republican candidates aligned with Trump.

"Well, if you're a congressional Republican, you wish" they didn't like Democrats, Enten said. "I have bad, bad news for you, because it turns out that the non-college voters are turning on you, too. And it may, in fact, turn you out of power in the congressional elections coming up in the midterms."

Republicans are down by 13 points with non-college voters while Democrats are up by one.

"It's just a point, but you know what? When it comes to a point and given how well the Democrats are doing among college voters, these are the types of numbers in which blue waves are built," said Enten. "And therefore, we can say that the key group that put Donald Trump in the White House, the key group that he built the MAGA movement upon, is leaving him. And it's leaving congressional Republicans too."