The influence wielded by the far-left in the Democratic Party has grown significantly stronger in recent decades, according to CNN polling analyst Harry Enten.
Enten presented data on Thursday that shows the number of Democrats who identify as “very liberal” has surged from 5% in 1999 to 21% today, while the number who identify as “conservative” has plunged from 26% to just 8% within the same period. As the Democratic Party drifts leftward, data suggests that movement could lead to political trouble in the future.
“The far-left, which used to just be a smidgen within the Democratic Party, has gained considerable power,” said Enten.
The CNN analyst made the point following a New Jersey special election in which the progressive Democratic candidate, Analilia Mejia, beat her primary opponent in the race to represent the state’s 11th Congressional District. Mejia was backed by prominent socialists, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, and lacked the support of the party establishment inside the Garden State, according to <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/new-jerseys-special-election-politics-desk-rcna258478">NBC News</a>.
“The results from that special election, that Democratic primary in the 11th District in New Jersey, speak to a larger point within the Democratic Party, and that is that the far-left is significantly more powerful than they once were,” said Enten.
The percentage of self-identified democratic socialists in the Democratic Party registers at about a third, but appears to be ascending. Among younger Democrats, those under the age of 35, 42% of them identify with the far-left label.
“Bernie Sanders and [New York City Mayor] Zohran Mandani are not alone. They are a considerable part of the Democratic base at this point,” said Enten.
“What happened in New York City is not some aberration, right? It is not something that just happened in New York City, it is something that we are seeing grow within the Democratic Party at this particular point,” he added.
Americans generally appear to be growing increasingly dissatisfied with the leftward drift of the Democratic Party. Enten pointed to polling showing that a majority of Americans now feel that Democrats overall are “too liberal,” from 42% in 1996 to 58% today.
“The Democrats are moving to the left, the far-left is gaining power, and there could be some electoral repercussions because what we see right now is voters, the clear majority, say that they are too liberal,” said Enten.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
An all-time high, 58%, of voters say the Dem Party is too liberal.
This comes as 1-in-3 Democrats think of themselves as Democratic Socialists!
And the % of Dems who say they&#8217;re very liberal has quadrupled since 1999.
NJ-11, NYC mayor &amp; Bernie Sanders are no aberration. <a href="https://t.co/J0xuskHgn6">pic.twitter.com/J0xuskHgn6</a>
— (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) <a href="https://twitter.com/ForecasterEnten/status/2021987601612517792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2026</a></blockquote>

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CNN Analyst: ‘Far Left’ Has Grown ‘Significantly More Powerful’ In Democratic Party

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CNN Analyst: ‘Far Left’ Has Grown ‘Significantly More Powerful’ In Democratic Party