Heartland/Rasmussen Poll: Majority of Young Likely Voters Want Democratic Socialist to Win the White House in 2028

The Heartland Institute ^ | Nov 2025 | Chris Talco

[CondoleezzaProtege]

A stunning new poll by The Heartland Institute’s Glenn C. Haskins Emerging Issues Center and Rasmussen Reports reveals that 51% of young Americans who are likely to vote in the next presidential election would like to see a democratic socialist in the Oval Office.

The survey found that nearly three-in-10 young Americans who voted for President Trump in 2024 would prefer a democratic socialist win the presidency in 2028.

Those earning less than $100,000 per year and those earning $200,000 or more also voiced strong support for a democratic socialist in the White House whereas the only income cohort to oppose this scenario are those earning $100,000 to $200,000 annually.

- 42% of likely voters aged 18-39 who identify as conservative want Democratic Socialist to win presidency
- Parents and online videos or podcasts are most likely to influence young Americans to support democratic socialism
- 52% said their teachers or professors favored democratic socialism when they attended school

* The poll has a margin of sampling error of +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. See the full results of the poll below, including some of the key data from the crosstabs.

It is hard to believe that a solid majority of young Americans think democratic socialism is the answer to the deep-rooted economic problems they face given that socialism has utterly failed to uplift the downtrodden every time and place it has been implemented. However, when they grow up in an environment surrounded by adults who champion democratic socialism, it starts to make sense. The rise of social media and soundbite news has only made the situation worse because these superficial sources perpetuate the myth that democratic socialism is vogue, feasible, and morally righteous.

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TOPICS: Polls
KEYWORDS: 2028; christalco; concerntrolling; heartland; nonsense; poll; rasmussen; socialism; warning

[CondoleezzaProtege]

CHARLIE KIRK: "How do we get more young people under the age of 35 to have equity in the system? Not the Democrat version of equity, where they want to have redistribution, but actually, are they paying a mortgage? Do they own stuff? Or are they permanent renters? A permanent renting class in this country is the prerequisite, is the leading ingredient for radical politics that nobody wants to see...We need to reinvigorate the ownership economy. And then all of a sudden, when you own stuff, you're less likely to burn down Wendy's and vote for candidates like Zohran Mamdani." (Fox News, 7/11/25)

DONALD TRUMP: "When Bernie Sanders was out of the race [in 2016], I picked up a lot of his votes because he was strong on not getting ripped off in trade and lots of the things that I've practiced... Bernie Sanders and I agreed on much more than people thought." (White House, 11/21/2025)

[ConservativeMind]

“42% of likely voters aged 18-39 who identify as conservative want Democratic Socialist to win presidency“

Then they are not conservatives. They are your standard Moderate.

[ryderann]

They’re not going to like living under communism.

[butterdezillion]

This strongly suggests to me that this is a BS poll.

[no-to-illegals]

Personally I find it difficult to believe the Young of America want to further subject themselves to being future slaves …….

[Angelino97]

This strongly suggests to me that this is a BS poll.

These are self-identified conservatives, supporting what they self-identify as democratic socialism.

They're using their own definitions and concepts of what conservatism and democratic socialism are.

They might well be this confused and fuzzy in their thinking.

[antceecee]

Yup! With a capital BS!

[Angelino97]

Personally I find it difficult to believe the Young of America want to further subject themselves to being future slaves …….

They don't see democratic socialism as slavery.

They see it as the freedom to force "the rich" to give you free stuff.

[rktman]

😂 they all think they be the block commanders. Sorry!

[MarlonRando]

yep and this is exactly what we will get. another mamdani

[Nik Naym]

The reason for this is the indoctrination these kids have been subject to from grade school through higher education.

We might as well face it, the communist plan to take over our education system which started many many decades ago has worked, because it was self sustaining. Now we are seeing the fruits of that plan.

There really isn’t much we can do to prevent the calamity that is coming.

[Political Junkie Too]

those earning $200,000 or more also voiced strong support for a democratic socialist in the White House

Somebody teach them what Mao did to the intelligentsia and then have them retake the poll.

-PJ

[vivenne]

They don’t understand what this really means.

[wildcard_redneck]

President Trump has to kill the H1B and the student visas and give white collar workers a break from being displaced or he’s gonna lose.

[Chickensoup]

No. I talk to these people every day.

They are educated in the fashion of the day.

They have no history.

They want to be nice.

[nwrep]

Not true.

[maddog55]

Total BS poll to say the least.

[HIDEK6]

Personally I find it difficult to believe the Young of America want to further subject themselves to being future slaves …….

Is this your wish or have you actually worked with these assholes?

[woweeitsme]

You can be “nice” and be a true American. I guess these folks are looking forward to Sharia Law?

[Ikeon]

" they are your standard moderate"

you spelled moron wrong.