Democratic Socialists of America Gains Momentum as Poll Shows One‑Third of Democrats Identify as Socialists
A CNN/SSRS poll finds roughly one‑third of Democratic voters now describe themselves as democratic socialists. Respondents are generally younger, white and earn under $100,000 a year, and they report higher motivation to vote in the upcoming midterm elections. The poll follows recent high‑profile wins for the movement, including New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani and continued influence from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez.
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), a 120,000‑member organization that counts Ocasio‑Cortez, Mamdani and Rep. Rashida Tlaib among its elected officials, released a new policy platform titled “Workers Deserve More” on 14 July 2026. The roadmap calls for sweeping constitutional changes such as abolishing the U.S. Senate, replacing the two‑party system with a multi‑party democracy, expanding the House of Representatives, and allowing Congress to elect the president and Supreme Court. It also proposes extending voting rights to permanent residents and people with criminal convictions, granting statehood to Washington, D.C., and granting self‑determination to U.S. territories. Additional proposals include massive wealth taxes, universal healthcare, a 32‑hour work week, defunding the Pentagon, and abolishing ICE, borders and prisons.
Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, have seized on the platform, labeling it extremist and “communist.” DSA co‑chair Megan Romer defended the Senate‑abolition proposal on television, giving conservatives material to attack progressive candidates ahead of the midterms.
Entities: Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez · Democratic Socialists of America · Herbert Hoover · Katie Wilson · Megan Romer · United States · Woodrow Wilson · Zohran Mamdani
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Democratic socialists are more likely than other Democrats to be highly motivated to vote in the upcoming midterm elections. (CNN poll)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Self‑identified democratic socialists tend to be younger, white, and earn under $100,000 annually. (CNN poll)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, have condemned the DSA platform as extremist and communism‑like. (Republican statements)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The platform proposes abolishing ICE, the presidency and the Supreme Court. (DSA platform)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The platform calls for expanding voting rights to permanent residents and people with criminal convictions, and granting statehood to Washington, D.C. (DSA platform)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The platform proposes abolishing the United States Senate. (DSA platform)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Democratic Socialists of America released a policy platform titled “Workers Deserve More” on 14 July 2026. (DSA platform release)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Roughly one-third of Democratic voters identify as democratic socialists according to a CNN poll conducted by SSRS. (CNN poll)