CNN senior data reporter Harry Enten said Thursday that the far-left now holds record levels of support within the Democratic Party, marking a significant ideological shift compared to the late 1990s.

Speaking on “CNN News Central,” Enten detailed how the share of Democrats who identify as “very liberal” has grown sharply over the past quarter century.

In 1999, only 5% of Democrats described themselves as very liberal. By 2026, that figure had climbed to 21%, representing a fourfold increase.

At the same time, the number of Democrats who identify as “conservative” has declined substantially. In 1999, 26% of Democrats considered themselves conservative.

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Today, that number stands at just 8%.

“You know, there used to be a lot of conservative Democrats,” Enten said.

“Right back in 1999, 26% of Democrats self-identified as conservative. Just 5% said that they were very liberal. It was a smidgen, a smidgen, a smidgen. Now that far left has gained considerably in power. Look at this. Now we’re talking about a fifth of Democrats, 21% say they’re very liberal. That conservative part of the Democratic Party, adios amigos, goodbye, just 8%.”

Enten added that when combining Democrats who identify as very liberal with those who say they are somewhat liberal, a majority of the party falls into the liberal category.

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“And when you combine the 21% who are very liberal with those who say that they’re somewhat liberal, we’re talking about three in five Democrats who identify as either somewhat liberal or very liberal with the very liberals, but much larger portion of the party, the far left, which used to just be a smidgen within the Democratic Party, has gained considerable power, as you saw in New Jersey’s 11th District,” Enten continued.

Data cited by Enten also shows strong support for Democratic Socialism among party members. Thirty-three percent of all Democrats identify as Democratic Socialists. Among Democrats under the age of 35, that number rises to 42%.

“And more than that, if you look at Democrats under the age of 35, they are nearly half, nearly half of the Democratic Party. Look at this. Forty two percent of Democrats think of themselves as Democratic Socialists under the age of 35, just like Zohran Mamdani,” Enten said.

“That, what happened in New York City, is not some aberration. Right. It is not something that just happened in New York City is something that we are seeing grow within the Democratic Party at this particular point when we’re talking about 42% of Democrats under the age of 35 identifying as Democratic Socialists and a third of all Democrats.”

Enten also noted a shift in how voters across the country view the Democratic Party’s ideology.

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According to the data, 58% of all voters in the United States believe the Democratic Party is too liberal.

That figure represents a notable increase from 48% who held that view in 2013 and 42% in 1996.

The ideological changes within the party have coincided with electoral victories by candidates aligned with progressive or far-left platforms.

In New York City, Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani defeated former Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the November mayoral election, winning 50.8% of the vote to Cuomo’s 41.3%.

Mamdani campaigned on proposals that included rent freezes, government-run buses and grocery stores, and has called for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Progressive figures such as Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders have also played prominent roles in shaping party policy discussions in recent years.

Policy proposals associated with the party’s left flank have included Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, and defunding police.

Kamala Harris supported many of these initiatives during her time in the Senate but later adjusted her positions during the 2024 presidential election cycle to present a more moderate profile.

Enten’s analysis reflects a long-term ideological shift within the Democratic Party, with growing identification among members as very liberal or Democratic Socialist and a declining share identifying as conservative.

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