CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten said Tuesday that the word "socialism" has shed much of its political stigma within Democratic primaries, citing Gallup polling that shows a marked shift in partisan sentiment since 2010.
Enten told CNN anchor John Berman that socialism’s net popularity among Democrats — the percentage who view the ideology positively minus those who view it negatively — rose from +7 in 2010 to +36 in recent polling. "The fact is, socialism is not a four-letter word in Democratic primaries, not among Democratic voters. It’s a five-letter word in the minds of a lot of Democrats. That five-letter word being great," Enten said.
Enten pointed to developments in New York City’s mayoral race as an example of the trend he described. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul recently endorsed Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani after the progressive candidate secured a surprise primary victory over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Mamdani has advocated for policies including free city buses, free child care and city-run grocery stores; he has also drawn criticism from moderates for his sharp criticism of Israel and proposals for policing.
Hochul, who for months declined to endorse Mamdani, wrote in a New York Times opinion piece that while she and Mamdani do not align on "every issue," she is seeking a mayor who will not "surrender" to former President Donald Trump. Enten said the Hochul endorsement and similar developments are consistent with the Gallup data showing a Democratic tilt toward socialist-sounding policies and rhetoric.
The shift among Democrats comes as attitudes toward capitalism have cooled within the party. Gallup data cited by Enten show the net popularity of capitalism among Democrats fell from +8 in 2010 to -13 in the latest figures. Among all adults, however, capitalism retains positive net support at +12, while socialism remains deeply unpopular overall at -18.
Enten cautioned that the growing comfort with socialism in Democratic primaries may pose a liability in general elections, where voters across the broader electorate view socialism far less favorably. "Republicans are salivating at the idea that they can run against a Democratic socialist being the mayor of New York City," he said, arguing that partisan primary dynamics do not always translate to general-election viability.
Political analysts note that the divergence between primary voters and the general electorate has been a recurring dynamic in recent cycles. Candidates who perform strongly in Democratic primaries by embracing progressive policy proposals sometimes face different voter priorities and perceptions in citywide, statewide or national general elections. The Gallup trends Enten highlighted reflect a longer-term realignment of ideological language and favorability within the Democratic coalition since the early 2010s.
Enten’s analysis builds on national polling trends rather than local voter research in New York. He emphasized the magnitude of the change within the Democratic base while reiterating that broader public opinion remains more favorable to capitalism and less receptive to socialism. As the 2024 election cycle progresses, observers say parties will likely adjust messaging to reconcile primary preferences with general-election concerns.