Almost half of Democrats and nearly a quarter of Republicans between the ages of 22-37 claim they are a socialist or a democratic socialist, a new poll said.
In total, 47 percent of millennial Democrats classify themselves as a socialist or a democratic socialist, according to a poll from BuzzFeed News and Maru/Blue. Twenty-eight percent of Democrats identified as a democratic socialist, 11 percent identified as a socialist, and 8 percent identified as either. Only 17 percent reported they would never consider themselves either.
Additionally, 24 percent of Republican millennials reported that they see themselves a socialist or democratic socialist. Ten percent reported that they identified as a democratic socialist, 11 percent identified as a socialist, and 3 percent identified as either. Meanwhile, 52 percent determined they would never identify with either label.
The poll was released after House candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who identifies as a democratic socialist, defeated Rep. Joe Crowley, D-N.Y., in a primary race in June. She has been vocal about her progressive positions, including her goal of abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Ocasio-Cortez will go up against Republican Anthony Pappas in the 2018 November midterm elections.
The survey was conducted online from Sept. 21 to 24 with a random sample size of 1,006 individuals between the ages of 22-37. Everyone sampled were members of Maru/Blue’s Springboard America panel. The poll’s margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
[Opinion: Democratic socialism isn't just stupid, it conflicts with the Constitution]