CNN poll cited in new report finds 34% of Democrats identify as “democratic socialists,” with DSA-backed candidates winning races in major cities

A report circulating Wednesday cited a CNN poll suggesting the Democratic Party has a growing bloc of self-identified “democratic socialists,” with 34% of Democrats saying they identify as democratic socialists. The figure is presented as part of a broader snapshot of Democratic voters’ political self-description and the reach of candidates associated with the Democratic Socialists of America, or DSA.

According to the same account, DSA-backed candidates have won elections in at least two large cities, New York City and Seattle. The report did not provide additional details in the supplied material on the specific races, candidates’ names, or the margins of victory, but it frames the city results as evidence of political influence beyond national-level debate.

The figures come as U.S. politics increasingly focuses on the policy disagreements inside the Democratic coalition. Democratic socialists are typically associated with proposals such as expanded public programs, changes to labor and economic policy, and different approaches to national budgeting and regulation. In the CNN-reported numbers referenced by the report, the measure is not limited to policy preferences, but instead centers on respondents’ identification with the label.

The report also describes the political dispute around the label, including calls from opponents that democratic socialism represents “toxic policies.” However, the supplied information attributes that characterization to the framing in the report, rather than identifying it as an official finding or a quantified assessment from the poll itself.

If the CNN-reported identification number is accurate, it could reshape how elected officials, party committees, and strategists assess messaging and primary contests. Candidate support within local elections may also affect platform negotiations inside state and city parties, particularly when candidates running on economic and labor themes use the democratic socialism brand to unify supporters.

At the national level, the share of Democrats identifying as democratic socialists may become a recurring talking point in congressional and statewide races, including debates over spending priorities, the size and scope of government programs, and the regulatory and tax implications of proposed reforms. The practical impact would depend on whether identified support translates into sustained voting patterns, committee leadership, and legislative coalitions.

For policymakers and party officials, the poll offers a descriptive data point rather than a direct legislative mandate. The next steps are likely to include additional polling on policy preferences to distinguish brand identification from specific program positions, and to clarify how voters interpret the term “democratic socialist” when they select it on surveys.