The survey shows the party’s democratic socialist wing is younger, highly motivated to vote and more supportive of moving Democratic policy further left, while socialist candidates gain ground in congressional and statewide primaries.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Approximately one-third of Democrats and Democratic-leaning adults now describe themselves as democratic socialists, according to a CNN poll conducted by SSRS, reflecting the growing influence of the party’s far-left wing ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The findings come as candidates running under the democratic socialist label gain momentum in Democratic primaries across the country. Following New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s defeat of Andrew Cuomo last year, democratic socialist candidates have secured nominations in several U.S. House races, including contests in which incumbent Democratic Reps. Adriano Espaillat of New York and Diana DeGette of Colorado were defeated.
Upcoming primaries will help determine whether the movement can build support outside heavily Democratic districts. In Wisconsin, recent polling found democratic socialist Francesca Hong leading the Democratic gubernatorial primary in a state expected to remain a major national battleground.
The broader trend was highlighted in CNN’s report, which found that self-identified democratic socialists are among the Democratic Party’s most committed supporters while also expressing strong interest in changing its leadership and ideological direction.
Democratic-aligned adults who identify as democratic socialists tend to be younger than other members of the party’s coalition. Fifty-nine percent are younger than 45, compared with 46% of Democratic-aligned adults who do not identify as democratic socialists.
They are also more likely to be white, with 57% falling into that category compared with 49% among nonsocialist Democratic-aligned adults.
The poll reported that democratic socialists are less likely to have a college degree, listing the comparison as 66% to 54%, and are more likely to earn less than $100,000 annually. Seventy-six percent fall below that income level, compared with 65% of other Democratic-aligned adults.
The socialist wing also appears highly engaged in the coming election. Among registered voters, 66% said they were extremely motivated to vote this year, compared with 57% of Democratic-aligned voters who do not identify as democratic socialists.
Both groups overwhelmingly said they support Democratic candidates for Congress. Ninety-nine percent of democratic socialists favored Democratic congressional candidates, compared with 94% of the party’s nonsocialist-aligned voters.
Democratic socialists also expressed warmer views of the Democratic Party and its congressional leadership. Sixty-eight percent reported a favorable opinion of the party, compared with 60% among other Democratic-aligned adults. They were also more likely to hold unfavorable views of the Republican Party and Republican congressional leaders.
Although both groups were similarly likely to say the Democratic Party requires either complete reform or major changes, democratic socialists were more supportive of replacing the party’s current leadership and nominating younger candidates.
They were also nearly twice as likely as other Democratic-aligned adults to favor moving the party further left on policy.
One of the clearest divisions involved U.S. assistance to Israel. Forty-eight percent of democratic socialists said they would be enthusiastic about a candidate who supports reducing American aid to Israel, compared with 20% among Democratic-aligned adults who do not identify as socialists.
The issue has become increasingly prominent in Democratic primaries three years into the Gaza war and has helped distinguish far-left candidates from more traditional members of the party.
Democratic socialists also hold overwhelmingly favorable opinions of the Democratic Socialists of America and politicians associated with the movement. Among respondents who expressed a view, nearly all regarded Mamdani and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., favorably.
The poll found that acceptance of socialist candidates extends beyond voters who personally adopt the label. Among Democratic-aligned adults who do not identify as democratic socialists, 64% said they would be comfortable or at least accepting of the party nominating such a candidate. Thirty-six percent said they would feel uneasy or upset.
The results suggest that democratic socialism has moved from a smaller ideological faction to a significant force within the Democratic coalition. Its adherents combine strong loyalty to Democratic candidates with demands for younger leadership, more left-wing policies and reduced U.S. support for Israel.
SSRS conducted the CNN poll from July 23 through July 27 among a random national sample of 1,225 American adults selected through a probability-based panel. Respondents completed the survey online or by telephone with a live interviewer.
The full sample carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points.
Original article
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