In a late‑July poll conducted by Elon University, 34% of North Carolinians said they are “a lot” or “somewhat” MAGA, while 29% identified as Democratic Socialists of America. The survey, which sampled 800 adults ages 18 and older between July 23 and 31, carries a margin of error of +/- 4.42%.
How the poll was structured
Respondents could select from 30 identity categories and indicate the strength of each affiliation – “a lot,” “somewhat,” “only a little,” or “not at all.” For the MAGA label, 19% chose “a lot” and 15% “somewhat.” For Democratic Socialists, 12% chose “a lot” and 17% “somewhat.” The poll also recorded that 26% of participants described themselves as politically homeless, meaning they did not feel aligned with any of the listed groups.
Broader political landscape in the state
The State Board of Elections reported that total voter registrations in North Carolina have risen to 7,826,649. Of those, 40% (approximately 3.13 million) are unaffiliated, 29.7% (2.33 million) are Republicans, and 29.6% (2.32 million) are Democrats. Libertarians number 46,487 and the Green Party 4,784. The data suggests a continuing trend toward independence, with nine in ten voters choosing no party affiliation at some point during the year.
Other identity groups measured
The poll asked about a range of other affiliations. Strong identification (“a lot” or “somewhat”) was reported by 78% for working‑class, 58% for religious, 58% for Second Amendment advocates, 52% for constitutionalists, 50% for social‑justice advocates, 47% for politically moderate, 46% for progressive, 42% for capitalist, 41% for fiscal conservative, and 20% for Libertarian. Notably, the terms “conservative” and “liberal” were not offered as response options.
Context for the Democratic Socialists of America
Nationally, the Democratic Socialists of America have been pushing for sweeping reforms, including single‑payer Medicare for All, defunding the police, the Green New Deal, and broader voting rights for all residents regardless of citizenship. In North Carolina, the organization’s only recent electoral win was a primary victory for Natalie Bent Kitaif on the Durham Board of Education. Other recent DSA candidates in the state, such as Mir Yarfitz and Kyah Creekmore, were not successful in their congressional primary bids.
Implications for upcoming elections
Dr. Jason Husser, director of the Elon University Poll and professor of political science and public policy, noted that voter coalitions often form around group identities beyond traditional party labels. He suggested that North Carolina’s electoral outcomes will depend not only on the balance between Republicans and Democrats but also on how candidates engage working‑class voters, religious communities, Second Amendment advocates, and other identified groups.
With the 2026 midterm elections on the horizon, the data underscores the importance of understanding these identity trends for campaign strategies and voter outreach across the state.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
