These swing voters in Nevada say they are not dismissing socialist candidates

NPR observed two Nevada focus groups of swing voters who backed Biden in 2020 and Trump in 2024, and found 10 of 12 said they wouldn't automatically think negatively of a candidate identifying as a democratic socialist. The groups, run by Engagious and Nelson Recruiting as part of NPR's Swing Voter Project, took place the same night Wisconsin's Democratic gubernatorial primary saw a self-described democratic socialist narrowly lose.

Moderator Rich Thau said he was struck by the openness given that swing voters typically lean centrist, and linked it to economic anxiety: 10 of the 12 participants said they feel more financially anxious now than when Trump took office, and seven reported carrying more debt. Participants cited rising grocery, insurance and mortgage costs as reasons for turning to credit cards.

Voters drew a sharper line at communism than socialism, with one participant admitting his negative reaction was 'ingrained from childhood' rather than reasoned. A recent Pew survey found about a third of Democrats view democratic socialist leaders positively, while most Americans are indifferent.

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