A recent survey conducted by Rasmussen Reports reveals that most likely voters under 40 favor a “democratic socialist” candidate for the next presidential election.
Participants, who were likely voters under 40, were questioned, “The next presidential election is in 2028. Would you like to see a democratic socialist candidate win the 2028 presidential election?”
Overall, 51 percent expressed support for a democratic socialist victory in 2028, while 32 percent opposed the idea and 17 percent remained undecided.
Not surprisingly, there is a significant partisan divide. Among Democrats under 40, a substantial 82 percent are in favor of a democratic socialist candidate, with only eight percent dissenting and nine percent uncertain.
Conversely, 65 percent of young Republicans are against electing a democratic socialist, in contrast to 24 percent who support the idea and 11 percent who are undecided.
Independents show a more evenly split opinion: 37 percent support a democratic socialist for the 2028 election, while 32 percent remain uncertain and 31 percent are opposed.
When asked who has influenced them the most to support democratic socialism, over a quarter of respondents, 27 percent, said it was a parent, followed by 17 percent who said online videos or podcasts, ten percent who said books, and seven percent who said a grandparent. Six percent attributed that support to print or digital news publications, five percent to television shows, five percent to a church leader, and four percent to a teacher in college or high school.
A plurality of Democrats and Republicans who support democratic socialism attributed the influence to their parents, while the highest percentage of independents, 18 percent, said books.
The survey of 1,496 U.S. likely voters between the ages of 18-39 was conducted on October 31-November 2, 2025, and it has a margin of error of +/- 3 percent.
The survey follows the rise of Muslim socialist Zohran Mamdani, the mayor-elect in New York City, who has pushed radial ideas including city-owned grocery stores. He has also suggested that “mental health experts” should respond to crimes rather than police.
It also comes as Democrat infighting becomes more prominent as seen during the Democrat government shutdown, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) trying to appease the far-left base of his party.
