One in three Democrats now calls themselves a democratic socialist — and they're the most motivated to vote

USA: About one in three Democratic and Democratic-leaning adults in the United States now identify as democratic socialists, according to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS — a finding that lands at a moment when candidates carrying that label are winning primaries and reshaping the party's direction heading into November's midterms.

The poll arrives on the back of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s victory over Andrew Cuomo last year, and a string of primary wins by democratic socialist candidates in US House races, including defeats of incumbent Representatives Adriano Espaillat in New York and Diana DeGette in Colorado. In Wisconsin, democratic socialist Francesca Hong is currently leading the field in polling for the Democratic gubernatorial primary in what is considered a critical battleground state.

Who identifies as a democratic socialist

The CNN poll offers a detailed demographic portrait of the democratic socialist wing of the Democratic base. They tend to be younger (59% are under 45, compared to 46% of non-democratic-socialist Democratic-aligned adults) and are more likely to be White (57% versus 49%). They are less likely to hold a college degree (66% versus 54%) and more likely to earn under US$100,000 (S$128,000) a year (76% versus 65%).

On political engagement, they are more motivated: 66% of registered democratic socialist voters say they are extremely motivated to vote this year, compared to 57% of non-democratic socialists. Both groups overwhelmingly support Democratic congressional candidates, amounting to 99% of democratic socialists versus 94% of non-democratic socialists.

They hold more favourable views of the Democratic Party and its leaders, and more negative views of Republicans, but they are also more likely to want the party to change. Specifically, to move left on policy, replace current leadership, and nominate younger candidates. On US aid to Israel, the split is stark: 48% of democratic socialists say they would be enthusiastic about a candidate who supports cutting aid to Israel, compared to 20% of non-democratic socialists.

One of the poll’s more significant findings is how non-democratic-socialist Democrats feel about the prospect of their party nominating a democratic socialist candidate. A majority of 64% say they would be at least okay with it. Only 36% say they would be upset or uneasy.

Netizens react

The poll drew reactions that circled around a recurring theme: the gap between the label and what people actually mean by it.

“I have found most Americans who call themselves democratic socialists are actually social democrats,” one commenter on Reddit noted. “I’ve also found that a lot of people considering themselves socialists think it means when government pays for stuff like roads and schools and fire departments.”

Another made the same observation: “I’ve been wondering if a lot of the people who identify as democratic socialists are actually more Social Democrat, because it’s seemingly often used interchangeably.”

One netizen offered a wry observation about the role Republicans may have inadvertently played in the label’s rising appeal: “I wonder if every time a good idea comes up, Republicans scream ‘That is socialism!’ They are making socialism sound awesome.”

Another took a longer historical view: “I have never been tied to any party, but I lean social democrat. I have thought since the 90s that if the left wanted power, all they had to do was take the Democratic Party.”

And one commenter cut through the ideological taxonomy entirely: “I couldn't care less what you identify as; just vote the fascists out.”

The poll’s most practically significant finding may be the one the commenter highlighted: 64% of non-democratic-socialist Democrats being at least okay with a democratic socialist candidate. That is the threshold that determines whether the label is a liability in a general election context, and on the evidence of this poll, within the Democratic base at least, it is less of one than the party's more cautious strategists have historically assumed.

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