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CNN Finds Trump’s Non-College Support Plunges as GOP Edge Narrows for 2026

A CNN analysis highlights a 23-point swing among non-college voters that signals risk for Republicans in the 2026 midterms.

Overview

  • CNN analyst Harry Enten reports that Trump’s standing with voters without a college degree has shifted about 23 points since 2024, from winning them by 14 to a net approval of minus 9.
  • Republicans’ advantage with non-college voters on congressional preference has shrunk from a 13-point edge in 2024 to roughly 4 points now.
  • Democrats currently hold about a 20-point lead among college-educated voters, intensifying GOP challenges if non-college margins stay narrow.
  • Enten attributes part of the movement to economic disappointment among working-class voters, citing a December report showing manufacturing jobs down since January 2025.
  • The findings were presented on CNN in an on-air segment with Kate Bolduan, where Enten warned the shift is dragging down the Republican Party ahead of the midterms.