Democratic socialism may be gaining ground inside the Democratic Party, but the broader electorate isn't sold. A new Washington Post-Ipsos poll finds 55% of Americans say they would not consider voting for a democratic socialist for president; 39% say they might. Even among independents, a majority of 54% rule the label out. Some 75% of Democrats would consider voting for a democratic socialist for president, as would 10% of Republicans, the poll found. But there was no consensus on what "democratic socialist" means, the Post notes. Responses ranged from "economic equality" to "communism," with no definition getting more than 13% support.
Support for democratic socialism went down with age and up with education level, the poll found. A Reuters/Ipsos poll also found that the movement is poorly understood, with only 49% saying they understood democratic socialist policies. Only 27% said democratic socialists have at least some good ideas, while 51% said they had few to no good ideas and others were unsure. Asked about MAGA politicians, 27% said they had some good ideas, while 57% said they had few to no good ideas.
President Trump has denounced democratic socialists—and all Democrats—as "hardcore, godless communists," Reuters notes. In the Post poll, 35% of registered voters, including 61% of Republicans, 23% of independents, and 8% of Democrats, said democratic socialism is similar to communism. The movement's most prominent members include New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has endorsed Abdul El-Sayed in Tuesday's Senate primary in Michigan. El-Sayed is not a Democratic Socialists of America member, but he supports progressive policies including Medicare for All.
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