Overview

• A May 2025 Reuters-Ipsos poll finds Republicans ahead by 12 points on which party offers the better economic plan, up from a nine-point edge in May 2024.
• CNN polling indicates Republicans hold an eight-point advantage on which party aligns closest with voters’ economic views, a lead consistent since November 2023.
• Registered-voter surveys reveal a tie between the parties on which best represents the middle class, erasing a long-standing Democratic edge.
• Analysts say Republican economic messaging has remained resilient despite stock-market swings, recession fears and unpopular tariff policies.
• The evolving economic perceptions heighten pressure on Democrats as they strive to reclaim the House and Senate in the 2026 midterms.