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Democrats Sink to Negative 25 in Latest CNN Poll
The Democratic Party’s favorability rating has collapsed to negative twenty-five points in a new CNN survey, marking one of the steepest declines in public opinion the party has suffered in recent years. The figure represents a dramatic reversal from 2018, when the party stood at an even zero during the first Trump administration and successfully retook the House of Representatives.
The twenty-five point underwater rating signals a fundamental break between the party and the broad middle of the American electorate. Voters who once saw Democrats as a reasonable alternative have turned away in large numbers, leaving the party’s brand in tatters despite the sitting president maintaining relatively strong political standing.
CNN Poll shows Democrat Favorably is UNDERWATER at -25 points.
Absolutely brutal. pic.twitter.com/ae1n2ljP4y
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) August 17, 2026
The collapse tracks directly with the party’s embrace of policies that clash with core American values. Democratic leaders have increasingly aligned themselves with socialist economic proposals, including massive government spending programs, aggressive new regulations on private enterprise, and wealth redistribution schemes that contradict the republic’s foundational principles of limited government and individual responsibility.
At the same time, prominent voices within the party have launched sustained attacks on the country’s history, institutions, and cultural identity. Rather than celebrating the achievements and character of the nation, these leaders have framed America’s story as one of shame and oppression. That messaging has driven away voters who see the country as a source of pride and strength, not a problem to be solved.
The decision to mainstream the most extreme elements of the party’s coalition has accelerated the damage. Policies once confined to the far-left fringe on border security, gender ideology in schools, and criminal justice have moved to the center of the Democratic platform. Moderate voices that once provided balance have been silenced or pushed aside, leaving the party associated with positions that poll poorly across most of the country.
The border crisis offers a clear example. Democratic leaders spent years downplaying or denying the flood of illegal crossings, then blocked efforts to secure the frontier while attacking those who demanded enforcement. Voters watched cities and towns overwhelmed by the influx and concluded the party cared more about ideology than public safety.
On cultural issues, the party has embraced radical gender theory and pushed it into classrooms over the objections of parents. Policies allowing biological males in girls’ sports and promoting medical transitions for minors have alienated families who see these positions as attacks on common sense and child welfare.
Criminal justice policies have followed the same pattern. Democratic officials in major cities have implemented soft-on-crime approaches that released repeat offenders and emboldened lawlessness. Voters living with the consequences have rejected the party at the ballot box.
The negative twenty-five rating is not the result of isolated missteps or poor messaging. It reflects a sustained ideological shift that has pulled the party away from the values most Americans hold. Leaders have chosen to prioritize the demands of the activist base over the concerns of working families, and the polling collapse is the direct result.
CNN’s own data confirms what Republicans have been saying for years: the Democratic brand has become toxic. The party that once claimed to represent everyday Americans now represents a narrow coalition of elites and extremists who view the country itself with contempt.
The challenge for Democrats is not simply one of communication or strategy. The party has tied itself to positions that most voters reject, and no amount of spin will change that reality. Until leaders are willing to break with the radical wing and return to policies that respect American traditions and common sense, the polling will likely remain underwater.
For Republicans, the collapse of the Democratic brand offers a clear opportunity. Voters are hungry for leadership that celebrates the country, secures the border, protects children, and enforces the law. The party that delivers on those priorities will continue to build on the coalition that has sent the opposition’s favorability rating into freefall.
The negative twenty-five point rating is a warning signal that the Democratic Party has lost touch with the country it seeks to govern. Whether leaders will course-correct or double down on the policies driving voters away remains to be seen.