Exclusive poll: Young Americans are embracing socialism
Generation Z has a more positive view of the word "socialism" than previous generations, and — along with millennials — are more likely to embrace socialistic policies and principles than past generations, according to a new Harris Poll given exclusively to Axios.
Data: The Harris Poll; Poll conducted Feb. 21–25 among 2,035 adults; Chart: Axios Visuals
Why it matters: The word "socialism" does not carry the same stigma it did in the past, now that it has been resurrected by celebrity politicians like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Young people's political views often change as they grow older, but their support for socialistic policies is a sign that the old rules of politics are changing fast.
Gen Z and millennials are projected to make up 37% of the electoratein 2020, and what they're looking for in a presidential candidate is shifting.
The top three voting issues for Gen Z, according to the Harris poll, are mass shootings, racial equality, and immigration policy and treatment of immigrants.
Millennials' top issues are access to health care, global warming/climate change and mass shootings.
Gen X's top issues are: access to health care, terrorism/national security and the national debt — the same top issues for boomers and older.
