The 2024 Trump voters who backed the Democrats during the 2026 midterm elections, contributing to the party’s nationwide success, generally view the far-left Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) unfavorably.
More Democratic Than Socialist.
According to polling conducted by Navigator Research, a public research project by the Global Strategy Group, one of the largest Democrat-aligned polling firms in the United States, “Trump Defectors” (voters who supported President Donald J. Trump during the 2024 Presidential election, but voted Democrat in the 2026 midterm elections) had a net negative view of the DSA. Specifically, the DSA had a net negative favorability score of -29 with Trump Defectors. Midterm voters overall viewed the DSA unfavorably, with a net negative score of -16.
The polling revealed that 11 percent of midterm voters were new Democrat voters. Specifically, six percent were Trump Defectors, and five percent were “Democratic Newcomers” (voters who backed the Democrats in 2026, but either did not vote or supported a third party candidate in 2024). Trump Defectors were largely Independent Women (20 percent), Independents (17 percent), non-MAGA Republicans (12 percent), men between ages 18 and 54 (11 percent), and Hispanics (nine percent).
While eight percent of Democratic Newcomers self-identified with the DSA, they were less prominent in the category than Gen Z voters (19 percent), Hispanics (12 percent), non-liberal Democrats (10 percent), and non-White women (nine percent).
The Post-Midterms Landscape.
This suggests that if Democrats pivot in the direction of the DSA, which officially supports abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and defunding the police, overhauling the U.S. Constitution, and voting rights for noncitizens, among other radical proposals, the party will likely alienate a sizeable chunk of its newfound support.
According to midterm exit polling, voters who prioritized the cost of living and the Iran War voted Democrat, while voters who prioritized immigration backed the Republicans. Similarly, the polling from Navigator Research showed that 48 percent of Trump Defectors prioritized inflation and the cost of living, and 38 percent were concerned about cuts to healthcare, Medicaid, and food assistance.
This will become particularly important as the Democrats prepare to elect their congressional leadership, with Senate Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) facing a leftward challenge from Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and presumptive Democrat nominee for Speaker of the House Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) facing mounting opposition from the DSA and other progressives in Congress.
