On Tuesday’s “CNN News Central,” CNN Chief Data Analyst Harry Enten explained that New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s endorsement of New York City mayoral candidate Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani (D) aligns with a broader trend in Democratic primaries where socialism is embraced rather than shunned. He asserted that for many Democrats, socialism is considered “Great” rather than a negative, unlike capitalism, which many now view as “Bad.”
Enten highlighted this trend by noting the significant rise in socialism’s popularity among Democrats. Back in 2010, socialism had a net popularity of plus 7 points, but this has soared to plus 36 points, demonstrating a notable shift over 15 years. According to polls, a plurality of New York City Democrats see the potential of a socialist mayor positively, mirroring national sentiment. Enten emphasized that socialism is gaining favor among Democrats, moving away from being seen as a negative term.
He further illustrated the changing sentiment by contrasting it with views on capitalism. In 2010, capitalism’s net popularity among Democrats was plus 8 points. By 2025, this figure plummeted to minus 13 points, signifying a drop of more than 20 points over 15 years. This trend shows a declining favorability for capitalism among Democrats, contrary to the upward trajectory of socialism’s popularity.
