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Celerity

(51,950 posts)
Tue Sep 9, 2025, 04:58 PM Sep 9

What the Polls Are Screaming to 'Mainstream' Democrats [View all]



https://prospect.org/blogs-and-newsletters/tap/2025-09-09-what-polls-are-screaming-mainstream-democrats/



Lately, the gap between what rank-and-file Democrats believe and what many leading Democratic officials say and do has widened to Grand Canyon dimensions. I’ve noted previously that while just a bare 8 percent of Democrats supported Israel’s war on Gaza in a July Gallup poll, a substantial minority of Democratic senators voted against a Bernie Sanders resolution in August to halt our nation’s provision of offensive arms to Israel.

Now, two new polls reveal the core ideological beliefs of Democrats and those of their top leaders are similarly dissimilar. A New York Times/Siena poll released today shows that democratic socialist and Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani leads Andrew Cuomo in New York’s mayoral race by a 46 percent to 24 percent margin, with Republican Curtis Sliwa and incumbent Eric Adams bringing up the rear.

On a more fundamental, what-do-you-believe, who-are-you level, a Gallup poll yesterday shows that nationally, the percentage of Democrats who view socialism positively—66 percent—exceeds the percentage who view capitalism positively—42 percent—by (using my powers of subtraction) a 24 percentage point margin. At a less theoretical level where the rubber meets the road, the Times/Siena poll of New Yorkers showed that 37 percent of them (not just the Democrats) said having a democratic socialist for their mayor would be good for the city, against 32 percent who said it would be bad and 26 percent who said it would be neither good nor bad. As well, the specifics of Mamdani’s “affordability” agenda’s social democratic policies polled considerably higher than his opponents’ stances.

Let’s back up a bit. From the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt through that of Lyndon Johnson, the prevailing ideology of the Democratic Party was a weak-tea version of social democracy. The Carter and Clinton presidencies marked a clear switch to neoliberalism, from which the Obama presidency never really shook itself free. Today, in a period when wage income lags hugely behind investment income and when income inequality, consequently, continues to soar, it shouldn’t be all that surprising that a substantial majority of Democrats react more positively to democratic socialism than they do to actually existing capitalism.

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Interesting read democrank Sep 9 #1
yw Celerity Sep 9 #4
Bernie, AOC and Zonran are making the case that people want to hear and to put in effect. usonian Sep 9 #2
thank you for sharing that Celerity Sep 9 #6
I love this article. Thanks nt mr715 Sep 9 #3
yw Celerity Sep 9 #5
Its not complicated biocube Sep 9 #7
The haves and have nots Hornedfrog2000 Sep 9 #8
AOC and Bernie Sanders are arguably FDR Democrats. If more Democrats would support them and their Fil1957 Sep 9 #9
AOC and Bernie Sanders don't support segregation SocialDemocrat61 Sep 9 #12
FDR democrats -I like that jfz9580m Sep 9 #31
Doubt it. Feel Good Inc Wednesday #42
FDR/LBJ were liberal Democrats same as the party today. NOT democratic socialists or populists. betsuni Wednesday #45
Giving the wealthy extra slows the economy IbogaProject Sep 9 #10
Enriching the wealthy does not create a better economy yet the wealthy have trained the average person to think Stargazer99 Wednesday #44
They left out that the poll said creeksneakers2 Sep 9 #11
Our current regime was created through our out of control capitalism. OldBaldy1701E Sep 9 #17
Because your attempt will fail creeksneakers2 Sep 9 #18
Ironic. OldBaldy1701E Wednesday #57
I don't know who told you that you are negative creeksneakers2 Thursday #58
I am not sure how I can offer facts about an action that really has no facts to it. OldBaldy1701E Thursday #60
My ideology is based on facts, evidence and logic. creeksneakers2 Thursday #61
Then you incorrectly stated your position. OldBaldy1701E Friday #63
I think candidates who are farther left lose creeksneakers2 Friday #64
That is because we need to talk specifics, not labels - TBF Wednesday #55
I agree creeksneakers2 Thursday #59
Me too! ananda Sep 9 #13
Kicked and recommended Uncle Joe Sep 9 #14
A suggestion to all-- digonswine Sep 9 #15
It's about time...... LilElf70 Sep 9 #16
K&R spanone Sep 9 #19
Centrism/status quo-ism is worthless in times of unprecedented chaos and collapse. We need to offer a substantive, Karasu Sep 9 #20
LOL!!!!! valleyrogue Sep 9 #21
I personally don't have an issue with being a progressive democrat. Everyone should try it LilElf70 Sep 9 #24
Name a publication which is NOT biased? LOL LiberalLovinLug Wednesday #56
Once Mamdani wins in a landslide, I think you will see his policies gain nationwide appeal beyond NYC MichMan Sep 9 #22
Something needs to change. AllyCat Sep 9 #23
I totally agree LilElf70 Sep 9 #28
👍❤️🙏👋🇺🇸 littlemissmartypants Sep 9 #25
THIS. ancianita Sep 9 #26
Are they willing to see reality? yellow dahlia Wednesday #49
Guess I'm a 'Mainstream Democrat!' elleng Sep 9 #27
Revolution ZDU Sep 9 #29
The first thing LilElf70 Sep 9 #30
Hear! Hear! yellow dahlia Wednesday #50
K & R jfz9580m Sep 9 #32
Three things LatteLady Sep 9 #33
Yes to all 3, but especially #1. Pinback Sep 9 #34
won't happen Be Leave On Wednesday #47
You are so right . . . . Scubamatt Wednesday #41
It's all about the money. Queso Delicioso Wednesday #35
Yep! But if you try to post here re: that topic . . . cer7711 Wednesday #36
We all need to be listening yellow dahlia Wednesday #51
Why in the world NCmindfield Wednesday #37
Thank you for posting NoSheep Wednesday #38
yw Celerity Wednesday #40
Yep and has been obviously so for some time now. Passages Wednesday #39
This would work IF PennRalphie Wednesday #43
Bernie Gets it; The War on Those in Poverty Never Ended mntleo2 Wednesday #46
There's a fundamental problem with our Congressional leadership and it's not related to that, it's ... themaguffin Wednesday #48
Agreed yellow dahlia Wednesday #52
Dems need to go full-bore FDR. n/t CousinIT Wednesday #53
We know - have been saying for years. The donors don't like them - TBF Wednesday #54
Oh, look at all those syllables. Neoliberal, capitalism, democratic capitalism. What's the message? betsuni Thursday #62
K & R Emile Saturday #65
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