A new Quinnipiac University poll finds that 59 percent of Democrats describe themselves as supporters of the Democratic Socialists of America, while 30 percent said they are not. The survey, conducted Sept. 3-6, asked respondents directly: “On political matters, do you consider yourself a supporter of the Democratic Socialists of America, or not?”
Among Republicans, just 2 percent answered yes and 96 percent said no. Independents were far more skeptical than Democrats but still showed some support, with 22 percent saying yes and 70 percent saying no.
What the DSA Platform Calls For
The Democratic Socialists of America released an updated platform in June that calls for drafting “a new constitution” and creating “a democratic socialist republic.” The platform also calls for abolishing the Electoral College and replacing the presidency and Supreme Court with an executive and judiciary chosen by, and subordinate to, Congress.
On policing, the DSA platform calls to “demilitarize police departments, disempower police unions, and redirect funding to public services as steps toward fully abolishing the police and prison system.” On immigration, it calls to abolish ICE, “legalize migration, grant amnesty for all immigrants regardless of status, provide a path to citizenship for all permanent residents, and end visa caps and quotas.”
Only 10 Democrats in Congress Have Distanced Themselves
Of more than 250 Democrats in Congress, only 10 have signed onto a coalition explicitly opposing socialism and communism. That group’s “Promise to America” includes statements such as “We are capitalist, not socialist,” “We want safety, not lawlessness,” and “We are proud, not ashamed of America.”
Policy Overlap With the Mainstream Party
Several positions in the DSA platform mirror stances already taken by prominent Democrats. Former Vice President Kamala Harris and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have both called for abolishing the Electoral College. Democrats more broadly have backed the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which would functionally eliminate the Electoral College’s role. Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, recently committed her state to that compact.
On immigration, Harris wrote in a 2017 post on X that “an undocumented immigrant is not a criminal. … Give people a path to citizenship. The vast majority of folks we’re talking about are living a lawful life and paying taxes.” Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., has said, “Let me be clear: No human being is illegal.”
The DSA platform echoes that framing, arguing that if “no human is illegal,” there is no basis for ICE or deportations — a position the platform states outright.
Similar overlap appears in Democratic rhetoric around defunding police and declaring housing a “right,” ideas the DSA platform advances in more explicit, structural terms.
What the Numbers Suggest
With 59 percent of Democratic respondents identifying as DSA supporters, the poll indicates the organization’s positions are held by a majority of the party’s voter base rather than a small faction. Only 10 House Democrats have formally joined a coalition opposing socialism, out of a caucus of more than 250.
Add comment