The Hill has an interesting report on a Buzzfeed and Maru/Blu poll conducted last month that seems to have slipped under the radar. The poll, which was conducted among millennial between the ages of 22-37, found that a nearly half of Democratic respondents identified as socialists in one way or another.
Almost half, 48 percent, said they would call themselves a democratic socialist or socialist, compared to 39 percent who said they identified as neither.
The percentages were lower among Republican millennials, with 23 percent saying they would call themselves a democratic socialist or socialist, and 71 percent saying neither.
This finding is, in many ways, not surprising. Previous polls have found an increasing share of Americans ready to embrace the label of socialism, particularly among the young. Still, the fact that nearly half of millennial Democrats are ready to openly identify as socialist, and nearly a quarter have an open mind to the label, speaks to just how much of a sea change has occurred in the political landscape over the last few years.
It’s also interesting that even a quarter of Republican millennial identify as socialists, and would be more likely to vote for socialist candidate. I wouldn’t read too much into it, but I do think it does indicate that the reemergence of socialism has in many ways, cut across the typical binary of American politics.
Other interesting findings from the poll:
- More than half of Democratic millennials (53%) see Bernie Sander’s 2016 primary campaign as being positive in terms of engaging new people and promoting progressive ideas. Only a third (33%) saw Sanders as a spoiler or being too far to the left
- Independent millennials were similarly positive on Sanders, with 43% seeing his impact as positive, and only 19% seeing it as negative.
- A plurality of millennials (38%) feel we should abolish ICE or limit its scope to violent crimes, while fewer (33%) felt we should keep ICE unchanged or give it more resources
