Here’s Who Voted For Democratic Socialists
Young, college-educated voters in dense urban neighborhoods have become a key source of support for candidates aligned with the socialist left, according to recent primary election data. Over the past several months, multiple self-described democratic socialists, along with candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, have defeated more centrist Democrats in major-city primaries on […]
Young, college-educated voters in dense urban neighborhoods have become a key source of support for candidates aligned with the socialist left, according to recent primary election data.
Over the past several months, multiple self-described democratic socialists, along with candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, have defeated more centrist Democrats in major-city primaries on both coasts. The results show a recurring pattern: left-wing candidates performed especially well in younger, higher-income, and more college-educated precincts, while their opponents tended to do better with lower-income voters and voters without college degrees.
That trend was visible in New York’s June 23 congressional primaries, where all three candidates endorsed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a DSA member, won their races in the Seventh, Tenth and 13th Congressional Districts.
In New York’s 13th District, Mamdani-backed socialist challenger Darializa Avila Chevalier defeated five-term Democratic Rep. Adriano Espaillat, 49.4% to 45.9%. Chevalier performed strongest in higher-income areas, while Espaillat held an advantage in lower-income precincts. According to The New York Times, Chevalier led by 5.1 points in higher-income areas, while Espaillat led by 9.1 points in lower-income areas.
Chevalier also drew strong support from younger and college-educated voters. The Times’ data showed she won younger residents by 24.5 points and college-educated areas by 20 points.
Espaillat, however, remained stronger in majority-Hispanic precincts, particularly in Morris Heights, Fordham, and Kingsbridge. VoteHub data showed Chevalier won 61% of plurality-white precincts and 55% of plurality-Black precincts, while Espaillat won 52% of plurality-Hispanic precincts.
Those neighborhood patterns reflected sharp differences in income and demographics. Morris Heights is predominantly Hispanic and African American, with a median household income of $34,619, according to Niche. Fordham Heights was 71% Hispanic as of 2024 and had a median household income of $41,840, while Kingsbridge was 66% Hispanic with a median household income of $64,497.
In New York’s Seventh District, Mamdani-endorsed Assemblywoman Claire Valdez, also a DSA member, defeated Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, 56.1% to 35.8%. Reynoso had been backed by retiring longtime Democratic Rep. Nydia Velázquez.