CNBC Poll Shows Young Americans Favor Democratic Socialism

A new poll from the CNBC Generation Lab reveals that 46% of Americans aged 18 to 34 hold a favorable or very favorable view of Democratic Socialism. This sentiment aligns with deep economic frustration among the cohort, as 72% of respondents describe the national economy as bad, really bad, or couldn't be worse. The survey identifies student loans, employment, and housing as the primary drivers of financial pressure.

The findings emerge as democratic socialist candidates achieve primary victories in Washington, D.C., and several states. However, the movement faced a setback in Wisconsin, where candidate Francesca Hong lost the gubernatorial primary to Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley.

Beyond politics, the poll highlights a growing use of prediction markets such as Polymarket and Kalshi among young adults. It also reveals significant distrust toward AI industry leaders; while Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is the most trusted at 35%, Palantir CEO Alex Karp is the least trusted at 19%.