The recent elections of socialists in a handful of major cities do not appear to have been a fluke.
If the emerging political class of middle-aged voters gets its way, a ticket of leftists Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and New York City Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani may headline the 2028 Democratic National Convention stage.
BELTWAY CONFIDENTIAL: FAILING CITIES TURN TO FAILED SOCIALISM
According to new and startling polling, a majority of likely voters currently 39 years old and under want the next president to be a “democratic socialist,” opening the door to a possible Ocasio-Cortez-Mamdani ticket or even another bid by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
“It is hard to believe that a solid majority of young Americans think democratic socialism is the answer to the deep-rooted economic problems they face, given that socialism has utterly failed to uplift the downtrodden every time and place it has been implemented,” said Heartland Institute research fellow Chris Talgo.
“However, when they grow up in an environment surrounded by adults who champion democratic socialism, it starts to make sense,” said Talgo.
Heartland’s Glenn C. Haskins Emerging Issues Center teamed up with Rasmussen Reports to poll nearly 1,500 likely voters aged 18 to 39
The group in the poll shared with Washington Secrets said they voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris over President Donald Trump by a 45%-39% margin.
They are currently split over Trump’s performance. A bare majority, 50%, disapprove of the president, but 48% approve.
Asked if they want a democratic socialist to win the next presidential election, over half (51%) said yes. Just 32% rejected the idea, and the rest were unsure.
Such support offers a good base for a leftist presidential candidate to join the race. Both Ocasio-Cortez and Mamdani will be just old enough to be constitutionally eligible to be elected president.
Every demographic in the survey, except 18- to 39-year-old Republicans and conservatives, said they want a democratic socialist as the next president.
The survey found that the younger voters were greatly influenced by how their parents and teachers portrayed socialists.
Some 54%, for example, said their parents and guardians talked positively about leftists. Another 52% said their teachers gave off good vibes about socialists. And 53% said the media influenced their thinking with pro-lefty stories.
Add to that how social media plays up socialism and its political heroes, and it’s no wonder that they are the future of the Democrats.
Heartland Institute’s Talgo said, “The rise of social media and soundbite news has only made the situation worse because these superficial sources perpetuate the myth that democratic socialism is vogue, feasible, and morally righteous.”
SEE THE LATEST POLITICAL NEWS AND BUZZ FROM WASHINGTON SECRETS
Ocasio-Cortez has been rumored to be interested in running for higher office, and many of her supporters hope she bypasses the Senate to run for president. She has recently attended “Fight Oligarchy” rallies with Sanders; both endorsed Mamdani’s mayoral bid.
A recent Emerson College Polling survey showed her within the margin of error against Vice President JD Vance in a 2028 race, 44% to 41%. Most polls have Harris and California Gov. Gavin Newsom leading the Democratic race, however.