POLL: Democrats Want Moderation—And the Party Should Listen
Gallup National Poll of Democratic Voters
Survey Dates: January 21 – 27, 2025
Sample Size: 1,001 adults nationwide
Democratic Sample Size: 438 Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents
Margin of Error: ±6 percentage points
Sampling Method:
Telephone interviews (landlines and cell phones)
Spanish-language interviews for Spanish-speaking respondents
Weighted for demographic accuracy based on age, race, gender, education, and geographic region
Gallup Poll Findings on Democratic Voter Preferences
A new Gallup poll out today delivers a clear message to Democratic leaders: the party’s voters prefer a shift toward moderation, not further leftward movement. The survey found that 45% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents want the party to shift toward moderation, that’s a significant 11-point increase in support for moderation since 2021, when Democrats were evenly divided between becoming more progressive or centrist.
As Democrats face the reality of their 2024 losses, this shift should not be ignored. Voters are signaling that the party must recalibrate its approach to win back the broad coalition necessary for electoral success in 2026 and beyond.
THE POLL: Gallup (February 2025)
Key Poll Results
45% of Democrats and leaners say the party should be more moderate.
29% favor a more liberal party, while 22% prefer no change.
In 2021, support for a more moderate party was 34%, meaning moderation has gained 11 points in just four years.
Moderate Democrats overwhelmingly want a more centrist party (62%), while 49% of liberal Democrats want the party to move further left.
Center Aisle Coalition Research Confirms the Shift Toward Moderation
This Gallup data aligns with what Center Aisle Coalition (CAC) focus groups and polling have consistently shown: swing voters are the key to winning elections, and they are turned off by ideological extremism.
Key Findings from CAC research (AUGUST 2024)
64% of swing voters say they prefer a moderate candidate over one who is strongly progressive or conservative.
57% of Democratic-leaning independents believe the party has become too focused on ideological purity and needs to refocus on practical governance.
Independents in battleground states are twice as likely to support a Democrat who emphasizes economic competence and bipartisanship over one focused on activist-driven policy priorities.
Progressive messaging on issues like defunding the police, government expansion, and radical climate policies polls poorly in key suburban districts that Democrats need to win.
Why a Moderate Approach is the Best Strategy for 2026
1. Moderation Expands the Democratic Coalition
The Obama and Biden victories were built on broad, diverse coalitions of moderates, independents, and suburban voters.
In contrast, progressive candidates have struggled in general elections outside of deep-blue districts, even losing Democratic primaries in safe Democratic seats.
Gallup’s data shows that moderates make up 43% of the Democratic Party—ignoring their preferences would be a critical mistake.
2. Independents Decide Elections—And They Prefer Moderates
In 2024, independents broke for Trump, helping flip critical Senate and House seats to the GOP.
64% of swing voters (CAC, Aug. 2024) prefer a moderate Democrat over a progressive or strongly conservative one.
Democrats must win back these voters in 2026 to prevent further losses in Congress.
3. Progressive Policies Hurt Democrats in competitive races
Exit polling from the 2024 election (Washington Post, Nov. 2024) found that voters in swing states were concerned about progressive policies on crime, government spending, and cultural issues.
57% of Democratic-leaning independents (CAC, Aug. 2024) believe the party is too ideologically rigid and should focus on practical governance.
Moderate Democrats outperform progressives in competitive races.
Split Ticket’s analysis of the 2024 election found that moderate Democrats in battleground districts won by larger-than-expected margins, while progressive candidates underperformed their districts’ partisan leans.
Candidates aligned with progressive groups like Justice Democrats and Our Revolution lost by an average of five points more than expected, suggesting that their policies hurt Democratic chances.
Ignoring these realities risks repeating the mistakes of 2024 and further narrowing the party’s path to victory in 2026.
What Democrats Must Do to Win in 2026
1. Prioritize Economic Competence Over Ideological Battles
Inflation and cost-of-living concerns still dominate voter priorities.
A moderate, pragmatic and pro-growth approach to the economy will resonate with the broadest range of voters.
2. Focus on Problem-Solving, Not Partisan Grandstanding
Swing voters want solutions, not rhetoric.
Bipartisan wins on the jobs/cost of living, education, healthcare, and public safety will matter more than symbolic progressive fights.
3. Rebuild Trust with Independents and Moderates
Gallup data and CAC research show that Democratic-leaning independents overwhelmingly prefer a moderate party.
Democrats must speak directly to these voters in 2026 and avoid alienating them with hyper-partisan or activist-driven narratives.
The Bottom Line: Listen to the Voters
The data is clear: Democrats want a more moderate party.
45% of Democratic voters prefer a shift to the center—a significant increase since 2021.
Moderate Democrats and swing voters overwhelmingly support centrist candidates over progressive ones.
Electoral history shows that moderate candidates perform better in general elections than their progressive counterparts.
If Democrats ignore these trends, they risk further alienating the very voters they need to win back the House and Senate in 2026.
The choice is simple: double down on ideological purity and lose, or embrace moderation and build a winning coalition.
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