NYT/Siena College poll

'Democratic socialism still widely unpopular'

US President Donald Trump speaks at a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks at the Pentagon in Washington on Friday (local time). [AFP]
US President Donald Trump speaks at a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks at the Pentagon in Washington on Friday (local time). [AFP]

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A new poll shows Democrats holding a clear lead over Republicans in voter preference ahead of the US midterm elections in November.

According to a survey released Tuesday (local time) by The New York Times and Siena College, 51 percent of respondents said they would likely vote for the Democratic candidate in their congressional district if the election were held today. Forty-three percent said they would likely vote for the Republican candidate.

The poll was conducted Sept. 8-13 among 1,503 likely voters nationwide.

With fewer than 50 days remaining until the November midterms, The New York Times interpreted the results as evidence that President Donald Trump has lost credibility on economic issues, handing Democrats a clear advantage over Republicans.

Trump's overall approval rating stood at a weak 38 percent. Notably, the poll found for the first time in his second term that a majority — 52 percent — strongly disapprove of the president.

More than half of respondents gave Trump negative marks on every major issue, including the economy, immigration and war. Voters said they trusted Democrats over Republicans not only on health care and war, but also on immigration and the economy — the very issues that powered Trump's victory in the 2024 presidential election.

Even among Republican supporters, only 28 percent approved of how Trump has handled inflation and the cost of living.

"With Trump remaining unpopular and cost-of-living frustrations persisting, Republican vulnerabilities have grown as Democrats push to reclaim both chambers of Congress," The New York Times said.

However, the paper noted that while the polling points to a strong Democratic showing, a landslide is far from guaranteed. One key factor is gerrymandering — the redrawing of electoral boundaries to favor one party. Ahead of the midterms, several states have approved congressional district maps that benefit Republican candidates.

Democrats also face an uphill battle reclaiming certain Senate seats in states such as Texas, Ohio, Alaska and Iowa, where Trump won by wide margins in the 2024 presidential election.

The same poll found that roughly half of American voters hold an unfavorable view of democratic socialism, a movement that has gained significant momentum within the Democratic Party in recent months.

Fifty-one percent of likely voters said they view socialism unfavorably, while 31 percent said they view it favorably. The poll did not provide respondents with a specific definition of "socialism" or "democratic socialism." The New York Times said the results show that while democratic socialists have scored a string of meaningful victories against the Democratic establishment, the movement remains unpopular with most Americans.

Within the Democratic Party, there is growing concern that recent primary gains by democratic socialists could alienate moderate voters and cost the party seats in the midterms.


yckim6452@heraldcorp.com