The Democrat Party is facing a major predicament: a large majority of the American public thinks they are too liberal, but the center of gravity in the party is farther left than ever before. That’s a bad combination heading into a critical midterm election this November.
As CNN senior data analyst Harry Enten relayed in a recent segment that has now gone viral on social media, the percentage of Americans who say that the Democrat Party is too liberal has climbed to an astonishing 58 percent. In 2013, that figure was 48 percent. In 1996, when Bill Clinton was president, it was just 42 percent.
The poll confirms what conservatives have long alleged – namely, that the political identity of the country has largely remained the same in recent decades, while the Democrat Party has lurched to the left. The results vindicate former Democrats who have defected to the Republican Party, saying, “I didn’t leave the Democrat Party, the Democrat Party left me.”
The growing sentiment that Democrats are too liberal could become a major problem for the party in November as it looks to retake control of Congress. “It’s a problem for Democrats that a majority of the general electorate views the party as ideologically too far to the left,” Nicole Russell wrote in a recent opinion column for USA Today. “The implication for the midterm elections could be huge. If this perception persists, Democrats may still struggle in 2026 and 2028 in suburban swing districts, Rust Belt states and moderate-leaning battleground states that Trump swept in 2024.”
“The Democrats are moving to the left, the far left is gaining power, and there could be some electoral repercussions because what we see right now is voters – the clear majority – say that they are too liberal,” Enten said.
But despite such warnings, those Democrats wringing their hands about the leftward slide of their party appear powerless to stop it. As Enten also relayed, the party’s base has become shockingly left-wing, meaning that moderation isn’t likely anytime soon.
In 1999, according to Gallup, more than one quarter of Democrats – 26 percent – identified as “conservative,” while just five percent identified as “very liberal.” Today, those numbers have flipped, with 21 percent of Democrats identifying as very liberal, while just eight percent say they are conservative.
Perhaps even more astoundingly, the proportion of Democrats who say they are “democratic socialists” has exploded in recent years. Thirty-three percent of Democrats now say they are democratic socialists, as do 42 percent of Democrats under the age of 35. In other words, Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Zohran Mamdani are not the outliers anymore – their ideology is now the beating heart of the party.
“[The] far left has gained considerably in power,” Enten said. “What happened in New York City is not an aberration.”
This move toward the radical left is currently playing out in Democrat primary battles throughout the country. Enten’s report was aired within the context of progressive activist Analilia Mejia defeating former Democrat Rep. Tom Malinowski in a special primary election for New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill’s old district in Congress. Mejia, who was initially viewed as a long-shot underdog, defeated the more established Malinowski with backing from Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez.
That result, Enten said, “speaks to a larger point” of the rapidly shrinking power of moderate and even liberal Democrats within the party. Now, it is the far-left socialist wing that is ascendant.
Even those Democrats who ran as moderates are clearly feeling the pressure from the progressive base.
In the political battleground of Virginia, new Governor Abigail Spanberger – whom some pundits believe has an eye on a bid for the White House in 2028 – has taken a hard-left turn since her swearing-in ceremony last month. As one of her first acts in office, Spanberger reversed an executive order from former Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin requiring local police departments to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
Spanberger has also flip-flopped on her prior opposition to gerrymandering and is now in support of an effort by Democrats in the general assembly to draw a new U.S. House map that gives them a likely 10-1 advantage (the current map is six Democrats and five Republicans, largely mirroring the state’s voting patterns in recent elections).
Clearly, Spanberger believes that any future political ambitions will run through the progressive wing of the Democrat Party that has seen its power increase exponentially in recent years.
But Spanberger and her Democrat colleagues may soon find that their embrace of the far left will only take them so far. While backing socialist policies may win praise from cable news hosts and earn applause from gender theory professors, the American public more broadly is making very clear that they want nothing to do with the new radical direction of the party.
Democrats can only hide in their progressive bubble so long. Eventually, they’ll have to face general election voters – and if the polls are accurate, they may be shocked to find that the country hasn’t joined them on their far-left joyride.
Matt Lamb is an AMAC Newsline contributor and associate editor for The College Fix. He previously worked for Students for Life of America, Students for Life Action, and Turning Point USA. He previously interned for Open the Books. His writing has also appeared in the Washington Examiner, The Federalist, LifeSiteNews, Human Life Review, Headline USA, and other outlets. The opinions expressed are his own. Follow him @mattlamb22 on X.
“The Democrat Party is facing a major predicament: a large majority of the American public thinks they are too liberal. . . .”
No, they are not too liberal, they are flat out b@t$h!t crazy.
The Dems held counter programming events dressed up like frogs, giraffes as well as an assortment of other other animals during the state of the union speech, and they expect us to take them seriously?
They have no repect for grieving parents whom have lost children murdered by criminals and illegal aliens.
Moreover they have no respect for fallen veterans and those who have sacrificed life and limb for this country, believing medals such as the purple heart are a joke.
The Dems are lawless, corrupt beyond belief, fleecing taxpayers of billions of dollars to send to Somalia and other 3rd world hell holes while crapping on American citizens struggling to put food on the table for their families.
They can’t define what a woman is.
They defend biological males in women’s sports.
Islamists, backed by the likes of Zohram Mamdani, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, et al. want to ban dogs as pets, institute Sharia Law in certain areas and blast their “call to prayer” over loudspeakers while banning Nativity Scenes at Christmas and taking Christian prayer out of schools. Moreover, they turn a blind eye while Jewish students on college campuses are openly harassed.
The Democrats have gone off the deep end?
That’s the biggest understatement of the year.
(and that’s only the tip of the proberbial iceberg)
Sarah Huckabee Sanders stated it correctly years ago: “It’s not a choice between right and left; it’s a choice between common sense and insanity.”
Democrat candidates put on a costume of moderation during the campaign season and then the mask comes off once elected. Please do not fall for their lies. They simply can not be trusted.
I am amazed that after Obama was elected on a socialist platform and hatred for republicans it has taken almost 20 years for this finally becoming a discussion. Hasn’t anyone seen what is going on? President Trump saw it coming 40 years ago. Obama was trained by his father in communism and hatred for America. He divided this country and when Trump was elected in 2016 Obama was devastated. His program to destroy America under Hillary had just been halted. That’s why they trotted out ole Joe whose brain was mush so the country was run by the deep state and Obama directing these zombies. For 4 years under Trump 45 they created a narrative that Trump was a dictator like Hitler and his supporters all Nazis. They tried to impeach him twice. Indicted him many times on false accusations. But ole Joe’s incapacity to govern became more clear every day. They told him go home Joe we want Kameltoe. Well her word salad here and abroad made her unqualified to be president and Trump was elected again in a landslide, with a majority in the House and Senate of republicans. And still they keep at it destroying America. President Trump always said I am in the way of them getting to the people and the SOTUS on Tuesday night showed just that. They sat on their hands. And told the American citizens we don’t care about you. That includes black, brown, Asians and native Americans and of course those pesky whites. When will the electorate wake up and see the democrats for what they are. Power grabbing communists supported by the billionaires like Soros, Pritzker, Gates et al.
Not counting gas and groceries, during Brandon’s term our bills went up $1,000 per month; insurance premiums, taxes, and utilities a great deal of it. At 73 yoa, I’m yet to see a pregnant man. I want my granddaughters to participate in sports without any locker room concerns. You can’t change God given biology like a suit of clothes. Everyone on the planet can’t live in the US, particularly to vote for libs. And these fools expect us to believe they have our best interest at heart? Horse manure! The US has its problems; anything concerning man does; but the libs ideas don’t address the issues that matter.
Pray, pray, pray that the deceived will be enlightened to the truth soon.
When not one democrat stood for Americans over illegals, you know the problem runs deep.
The Dem party is not “powerless” to change, it just refuses to. The outright lies on camera are getting ridiculously out of hand. It should be illegal for an elected member of Congress to flat out lie on camera. Not excuse to protect this speech when off the floor. It absolutely amazes me that we have elected members of government that HATE AMERICA and have no qualms about showing it every single day! I’m so offended and, quite frankly, disgusted by their treatment of the American citizens. Especially the almost 80 million that voted for NOT HARRIS. I don’t have to like Trump to see that he’s doing a great job. I no longer have any faith in Congress, both sides of the aisle.
The democrats destroy everything they touch. Now we see it everyday in real time.
Useful idiots and China loves it! Democrats are a wrecking ball on the soul of America.
I pray the ‘far left democrates” truly fail this year in the mid-term elections!!! We definitely need more babies, not more abortions, less boys in girls sports and in ladies locker rooms!
For decades, even generations, unionized teachers have brainwashed kids to believe in collectivist ideas — communism, socialism, take your pick.
As a result, many adults, even grandparents, believe that business is evil; government is smarter and better than individuals, Christianity is bigotry, criminals are simply “disadvantaged”, men are rapists, the US is “the most racist country on earth” … the list goes on.
None of these are true, but in a “tl;dr” world, how can you counter such institutionalized ignorance?
We’re on the brink of cultural suicide, threatened from outside, but poisoned from inside.
The traditional democrats are afraid to stand up to these radicals…same for the republicans. If they don’t stand up, they will be steamrolled, and the entire country is collateral damage. They will be just as much to blame. Furthermore, I don’t know how anyone can vote for someone who stands up with people wearing frog costumes and stands in the street singing. They are truly wacked out at this point, and it amazes me how many follow. It’s frightening. God help us.
The leftist Dems will compensate by using deception to get elected. Like Spanberger in Virginia and Mamdani in NYC, they will campaign as moderates then govern far left.
That is why they are fighting so hard against the SAVE act. The only way they can win is by cheating.
The Democrats reflect a Godless Society. This is how people act when they do not believe in God. This is all you need to know about a party that does not think there is anything wrong with lying, cheating, killing unborn babies, taxing the working American middle class to fund crazy ideas about sex change operations for inmates, children, you get the idea. I would venture to say most of these Democrats are on prescription drugs for depression. Take a look at Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, AOC, Ilhan Omar, should I go on. These folks are worse than crazy and reflect the party. I suppose this is the best and the brightest . They have nothing to offer the American people, don’t know how to govern. All they really know how to do is cheat on elections.
Democratic Socialist is what Karl Marx told Communists to call themselves until they gain power. As usual, the press plays into the hands of the CCP. Just as the left hijacked the word “progressive “ from Teddy Roosevelt and co-opted most of the pro people freedom movements of the 1960s into the totalitarian socialist movements of the same names today.
It’s a choice between Capitalism (freedom) and Marxism (authoritarianism).
The Democratic Party is NOT LIBERAL. They can’t STAND liberalism. Liberalism means listening to others, respecting differing opinions, and adhering to individual liberty as protected by the US Constitution. Professional Democrats — office holders and Party staffers — generally are hard-line intolerant Progressives or socialists, not liberals. The relatively few liberals left in America are in the Republican or Libertarian Parties.
The two-party system locked in our government by custom, self-made House and Senate rules, and court decisions concerning the elections process prevent the Democratic Party from being marginalized or eliminated and replaced by one or more new parties or expanded “fringe” parties. So, America is stuck with these radicals until they die off, are convicted of “high crimes and misdemeanors” and removed from the political process, or voluntarily self-deport. Until then, Americans have to vote for Republicans, preferably Republicans who will refocus on the Constitution, limited and federal governance, and protecting/enforcingALL TEN of the Amendments in the Bill of Rights.
The Democrats will rue the day they became Communist wannabes. They can call the rest of us Nazis all they want, but the truth is nobody is buying that!
Knowing how skewed the polls and the media are that number has to be way higher than 58% I can’t believe anybody thinks that the Democrat party has any shred of sanity left. Everything the Democrat party believes in and does is exactly opposite of what the Lord says in the Bible. The Bible is the only truth. Democrats think everybody has their own truth. Boy are they going to get a surprise when Christ comes back and that’s coming real soon. I know exactly where they are going and there’s plenty of room, and there are no second chances
A vote for a democrat is a vote for communism.
If the now fully Socialist/Communist ‘Democrat’ party wants to survive, the handful of the old, fossilized left-wingers IE.UpChuck Shoemur, Pisslosi, DICK Dirtbin, and a few others (though are still all mega-corrupt, lying, America-LAST, Illegals-FIRST losers, they had better first:
But since that will NEVER happen, the days of what used to be the left-wing Democrat Party are definitely numbered.
All of which begs the question for the Commies. Since Socialist/Commie (never worked an honest day in his miserable life) fossil Burnie Sanders, OAC and her Squad of EVIL, Jazman Crotch-it, born with a silver spoon in their mouths mayors ManDAMNI Seattle’s Kati Wilson, and all the other enemies within, who LOVE AND SUPPORT COMMUNISM, why don’t these mega-corrupt, lying fools move to any number of the commie countries around the world? WHY??? BECAUSE THEY ARE HYPOCRITES TAKING LARGE DOSES OF HYPOCRISY STEROIDS.
ALL ARE TRULY AMERICA’S ENEMIES WITHIN!!!!!
CNN The Communist News Network . With a viewership so small , they have even been pulled from the Air Ports .
But stupid liberals will still vote Dem.
But they still keep winning.
It is totally clear that the Democratic Party and their allies are enemies of America and the American people and must be stopped! The Democratic Party and their allies are thieves, murders, child molesters with their totally disgusting values! They want to destroy America and the American people at all cost, we the people must destroy them first!
They are far worse than just further to the left!
& CNN did nothing in past years alone
CNN is the Problem
The biggest problem is that many Democrats don’t try to find out what the candidates are planning on doing. They just vote for them because they are Democrats. They would vote for Donald Duck if he were running as a Democrat. It’s time for them to get informed before voting.
It is really sickening for all the disrespect for President Trump. He is not a Democrat or Republican. He is a common sense business man who is working to right our nation how it used to be. All you liberals should go to a country that has your ideology and live there for a while and see how bad it is . You think the cost of living is high here, try them other Socialist nations. All this leftwing lies the Dems. are spewing out is just that. LIES. There are some on the GOP that need to go too. Career polititions should not be here. So, what do you want? A free and safe country without big government or a country with the Government looking over your shoulder every day monitoring your every move. All you liberals leaving Blue states, leave it their. You want to escape the high taxes and all the socialist jargon the Democrats are setting forth, then so be it. But don’t bring it to the Red states an try flip it purple then blue . I pray the people will wake up and see the light.
All in all, the reality is that AI is a major cause of all these news articles saying the economy is horrible, unemployment is high, and prices are high. This is not all Trump’s doing. I think the Democrats have a hand in all this. This could be a problem on the mid terms. In the future, a robot will do the job, and we will be with out.
Politicians have only two concerns , enriching themselves , and getting reelected . Politicians do not give a Rat”s Behind about the American People .
The idea that conservative Democrats don’t have the influence they once had is ludicrous. Each one of them still has their own vote and they need to grow a spine and stop voting down party lines. Their voters expect them to deliver on conservative issues.
Democrats are Communist.
Democrats ARE the Socialist Party of America. IMHO they are a front for the Communist Party of America. They follow the steps exactly..
“The Last True Democrat Was President John F. Kennedy!!
The Democrats Now Are “Socialists”…”Communists” In Hiding!!!
,,,”WAKE UP AMERICA”!!!!
Mainstream democrats may wring their hands about the leftward lurch of the party, but they still vote in lockstep.
Conservatives are a large group but we’re also lazy. “It’s just one vote, it won’t make a difference.” If we don’t vote, we have no reason to complain as liberals redesign our country. Can’t get to the polling place? Use that mail-in ballot. Get it in early.Often later mail-in ballots are yet uncounted when early results are called. You can save this country.
Democratic Socialism is just the Americanization of the Communidt party
They’ve been off the deep end for years. But none of this matters if Republicans don’t get out and vote in the midterms. And bring 5 friends with you.
I wonder how many people know who founded the Democratic Socialist Party of Germany? For those who don’t know I will tell you. It was a man named ADOLPH HITLER!!!! Every time I hear Democratic Socialist Party I think of the evil behind it. AND THAT IS WHAT IT IS IN THIS COUNTRY! EVIL! PURE AND SIMPLE!
So if CNN can make statements like this to their viewers once in a while that expose some of the sanity on the left, then maybe we have a shot at winning the midterms. Otherwise??
Democratic Socialism is in my opinion the same as stepping onto a banana peel which slides into full Socialism then ending up in Communism. American residents who favor the current Democratic Party’s ideals should just leave the USA and go live in a communist country.
The only way we can get more demonrats out of office is get off our duffs and go vote! Haven’t missed an election since I got out of training.
If so many voters believe that the party is too far left, why do so many keep voting for these morons? I could go on but enough said.
If what is being said here in this article is true why have democrats won New York, Virginia, New Jersey, NC, etcc….? Our country can’t stand these evil democrat governors being voted in or elections being stolen.
This doesn’t look good for the midterm election. We need to win the midterms but we also need to get rid of these very evil governors in order for our nation to survive.
We need more God fearing conservatives in our offices.
Our choices are no longer Republican or Democrat, it’s God or Satan! Plain and simple. I pray our nation makes the right choice, it will certainly make eternal determination.
Democrats aren’t JUST leaning farther left, they are just super evil criminals in every thing they do especially using billions of our tax dollars for filth, perversion, and awful corruption and giving free healthcare, full EBT cards, vehicles, housing, phones and everything else to illegals who should never ever have been allowed to be here in the first place. The absolute terrible thing about it is, they appear to be getting away with it. We haven’t seen any arrest especially Omar, Walz, Nusance(Cal.), for all of the super fraud they have committed and all democrats. It’s very hard to believe that there are any democrat voters left after Clinton, and especially Obama, and Bidens’ super terrible corrupted anti law, anti constitution, anti American, anti God, anti democracy, anti Republic, criminal supporting, baby slaughtering years.
We were saved from total collapse two times: Trumps’ 1st term and this term. If the people allow these super evil democrats to take back control of our government again we won’t survive the next round. I don’t believe that God will allow such evil from the democrats/rhinos to go continue. We all will face judgement from God.
I think that’s why they’re so frantically Gerry Mandering.
They have a plan that involves deception, violence and deflection and this nation must become aware that there tactics that can destroy the faith, family and foundation. They are using our encouraging president to discourage the few to hate him as a “smoke screen” for their illustrious political ambitions, which is to destroy the United States in America. They do not know or care that the Lord is still in control and that the “silent majority” will rise up and support what is right. There is a religious group that is waiting for the division to happen in this nation to try to take it over.
The solution is found in 2 Chronicles chapter 7 verse 14.