Survey Finds Young Voters Favor Democratic Socialism

A new survey by Rasmussen Report reveals that a significant number of potential voters under 40 are inclined to support a “democratic socialist” in the upcoming presidential election.

The investigation posed a question to respondents, likely voters under 40: “The next presidential election is in 2028. Would you like to see a democratic socialist candidate win the 2028 presidential election?” Overall, 51% expressed a desire for a democratic socialist candidate, while 32% opposed this idea, and 17% remain undecided.

The survey highlights stark divisions within political affiliations. Among Democrats under 40, a substantial 82% want a democratic socialist to win in 2028, while only 8% said they would prefer otherwise and 9% are uncertain. In contrast, a notable 65% of Republicans in the same age group do not support this, with 24% in favor and 11% unsure.

Independents show a more mixed response: 37% are in favor of a democratic socialist candidate, 32% are unsure, and 31% oppose it.

When discussing who influenced their views on democratic socialism, more than a quarter—27%—of respondents credited their parents. Online videos and podcasts accounted for 17%, followed by books at 10% and grandparents at 7%. Meanwhile, 6% stated that print or digital news sources shaped their opinions, and 5% credited television programs or church leaders, with 4% pointing to teachers from college or high school.

Across party lines, both Democrats and Republicans largely attribute their support for democratic socialism to their parents. However, independents had a noteworthy 18% citing books as their primary influence.

This survey was conducted from October 31 to November 2, 2025, involving 1,496 likely voters aged 18 to 39, with a margin of error of +/-3 percentage points.

The findings emerge alongside the ascent of Zoran Mamdani, the newly elected mayor of New York, who has championed radical measures like city-owned grocery stores and proposed that mental health experts, rather than police, respond to specific incidents.

Additionally, the results reflect increasing tensions within the Democratic Party, particularly amid recent conflicts, including the government shutdown, where Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has sought to navigate the demands of the party’s far-left faction.