A new CNN poll shows that roughly one-third of Democratic-leaning American adults now describe themselves as democratic socialists, a shift that underscores the growing influence of once-fringe left-wing movements within the Democratic Party. The survey, conducted by public opinion research firm SSRS, found that 34 percent of respondents who identify as Democrats or lean Democratic consider themselves democratic socialists. Across all respondents, 15 percent said they hold that label.
The poll also offers a profile of those who identify with the label. Fifty-nine percent of democratic socialist-identifying respondents are younger than 45, and 57 percent are White. They are less likely than other Democrats to have a college degree and more likely to earn less than $100,000 a year. The group also appears more energized for the coming elections: 66 percent of democratic socialists said they are «extremely motivated» to vote this year, compared with 57 percent of other Democrats.
The findings come amid a string of electoral successes for candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America. In New York City, voters elected Zohran Mamdani, a DSA-backed socialist, as mayor, and Seattle voters chose Katie Wilson, another self-identified socialist Democrat, as their mayor. DSA-endorsed candidates have also won Democratic primaries for Congress in New York, Pennsylvania, and Colorado, while Abdul El-Sayed, supported by the DSA, is favored to win the Democratic Senate nomination in Michigan.
The rising profile of the DSA has drawn concern because of its platform, which calls for sweeping changes to the structure of U.S. government. Among its proposals are eliminating the U.S. Senate, replacing the presidency and the Supreme Court with institutions chosen by and subordinate to Congress, granting mass amnesty to immigrants, and defunding the Department of War. The organization has also called for an immediate end to all deportations, free migration between countries, and full voting rights for people with criminal convictions and noncitizens.
Economic and social policies in the platform include a 32-hour work week with no reduction in pay or benefits, Medicare-for-all, canceling all student loan debt, eliminating cash bail, and universal rent control.
Republican officials seized on the poll results to criticize Democratic candidates. Mike Marinella, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said Americans have reason to be concerned that one of the most influential forces inside the Democratic Party is pushing to abolish ICE, defund the police, get rid of prisons, grant mass amnesty to illegal immigrants, eliminate the Senate, pack the Supreme Court, and raise taxes «in every way possible.» He added that those are not mainstream ideas and that voters are seeing the Democratic Party «bending the knee to these radical socialist lunatics.»
Natalie Baldassarre, a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee, said the embrace of «toxic policies» and candidates by the left will hurt Democrats in key races this November. «Socialism may be taking over the Democrat party, but the majority of Americans are nowhere close to adopting this extreme ideology,» she said.
Democratic responses to the DSA platform have been mixed. In Wisconsin, gubernatorial frontrunner Francesca Hong, an active DSA member, defended her membership while distancing herself from some of the most far-reaching proposals of the group. Asked about abolishing the Senate, she called it «nonsensical and non-practical at this time,» and she rejected the idea of abolishing the Supreme Court, citing her belief in checks and balances.
The DSA and the Democratic National Committee did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
