Harry Enten, CNN’s Senior Data Reporter: It seems that Democrats have just received yet another dose of discouraging news. Their hope of reclaiming the House is not just waning—it’s nosediving.
Let’s rewind to six months ago, specifically to April. What was the political landscape then? The Kalshi Prediction Market odds indicated that Democrats had a strong shot at regaining control of the US House of Representatives, boasting an 83% chance. Fast forward to today, and that optimistic figure has plunged to a mere 63%. Meanwhile, the GOP has been riding a wave of newfound optimism, with their odds soaring from 17% to an impressive 37%.
The seemingly assured Democratic win in the House we anticipated so confidently has morphed into a more precarious toss-up—though Democrats still hold a slight edge.
Kate Bolduan: So, what exactly has changed? What are you noticing in the data?
Harry Enten: Excellent question, Kate. To understand the shift, let’s first examine the broader national mood among voters. We can start by looking at the generic Congressional ballot and draw parallels to the years 2017 and 2018, which serve as relevant benchmarks. Back in April, Democrats were ahead by three points in 2025, which mirrored their performance in April 2017.
But as we move further along, we see a stark contrast. In 2017, Democrats surged to an impressive eight-point lead. Many observers, myself included, anticipated that Republicans, holding control over both the House and Senate along with the presidency, were on shaky ground and ready for a shift in power.
Yet here we are, Kate, and that anticipated shift has not materialized. While Democrats were once leading decisively in 2017, now they’re simply… trailing relative to that pace from all those years ago. So, the critical question arises: is this slim three-point lead going to be sufficient given upcoming redistricting shifts?
Kate Bolduan: That’s exactly my point. Beyond the voting trends, we’ve seen a significant mid-decade redistricting effort that could complicate matters. What’s the forecast now with that in mind?
Harry Enten: Right, let’s dissect that. National dynamics aside, state-level changes could have crucial impacts too. If both parties maximize their gains through redistricting, Republicans are in a far better position. Sure, Democrats may attempt to mitigate losses in states like California, but across various states, they find themselves running out of options while Republicans continue to gain ground. If both sides hit their maximum potential, we could see Republicans snagging an additional seven seats.
And keep in mind, this doesn’t factor in the potential backlash against the Voting Rights Act (VRA), which is presently under scrutiny by the Supreme Court. Should these protections be weakened, we could realistically be looking at a GOP gain of 10, 12, or even as many as 17 additional seats to that seven. The overarching impression is that without a notable shift in national sentiment, along with these imminent state-level changes, Democrats are facing a daunting uphill struggle.
Kate Bolduan: As you emphasized, it complicates comparisons to historical cycles significantly given the current political framework.
Harry Enten: Precisely, Kate. The landscape is markedly different now, raising legitimate questions about how far ahead Democrats will need to be nationally to even contemplate regaining control.
The Democratic chances of seizing the House in 2026 are plummeting, with Republicans looking at impressive increases over the past six months…
Reasons?
1. Democrats are failing to keep pace with their previously set tempo in 2017 on the generic ballot.
2. Republicans could gain significantly from mid-decade redistricting. pic.twitter.com/iauGwkTmp2
— (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) October 15, 2025
