A new Economist/YouGov poll suggests that most Americans would not support a democratic socialist presidential candidate, highlighting a potential national electoral obstacle for a movement that has recently gained prominence through local and state-level victories. The findings matter as Democrats debate how far the party should embrace more left-wing candidates and policies ahead of the 2028 election.

Twenty-nine per cent of respondents said they would vote for a democratic socialist, compared with 45 per cent who said they would not; 26 per cent were unsure. The poll also found that 32 per cent viewed socialism favourably, 39 per cent unfavourably and 29 per cent were unsure; it surveyed 1,606 people from 26 to 29 June, with a 3.2-point margin of error.