'Yikes': Shock as new poll shows Dems with 'largest lead for either party' since 2018

Political observers were shocked over the weekend after a new poll revealed what one reporter called "the largest lead for either party on the congressional ballot in the NBC News poll since the 2018 midterms."

Jake Sherman, the founder of Punchbowl News, flagged the NBC poll on Sunday morning.

"NBC POLL. And one year before the 2026 midterm elections, Democrats lead Republicans in the fight for Congress by 8 points, 50%-42%, the largest lead for either party on the congressional ballot in the NBC News poll since the 2018 midterms," he wrote.

Conservative strategist Brendan Buck simply wrote, "Yikes" on social media.

A popular "policy wonk" called Maine said, "New NBC Poll just adds to growing sentiment: - Trump is cooking Republicans. - Americans blame GOP for shutdown. - Americans want Dems to takeover Congress."

In sharing the poll, NBC Politics said there is an opening for Dems.

"In a new NBC News poll, nearly two-thirds of voters say Trump hasn't met their expectations on the economy, giving Democrats an opening in the midterm elections," the outlet wrote.

According to NBC's Sahil Kapur's analysis, "Who do voters say is more to blame for the government shutdown? • 52% blame Trump/Republicans • 42% blame Democrats."

Read the poll here.