About 34% of North Carolinians surveyed at the end of July said they are a lot or somewhat MAGA compared to 29% identifying as Democratic Socialists of America.
This Elon University Poll, also known as the 2026 North Carolina Political Landscape Report, said 26% defined themselves as politically homeless. In conjunction with YouGov, the Elon Poll has a sampling of 800 adults ages 18 and older from July 23-31. The margin of error is +/- 4.42%.
“Winning coalitions of voters are often built by group attachments beyond party labels alone,” said Dr. Jason Husser, director of the Elon University Poll and professor of political science and public policy. “Outcomes in North Carolina elections are driven not only by whether the state has more Democrats or more Republicans, but also whether politicians can move those who identify with groups like working class, progressives or Second Amendment advocates. We measured the scope of some of the largest politically relevant group identities in North Carolina to offer insight into why some ideas stick in the state and others struggle.”
The weekly seven-day update by the State Board of Elections on Saturday lifted the total voter registrations in the state to 7,826,649. Rounded, 40% are unaffiliated (3,129,789), 29.7% are Republicans (2,327,784) and 29.6% are Democrats (2,317,805). Libertarians total 46,487 and the Green Party is at 4,784.
The trend all calendar year is for 9 in 10 to choose independence.
In the Elon Poll, respondents had 30 categories to identify – they could choose more than one – and within those choices said they were “a lot,” “somewhat,” “only a little,” or “not at all.” MAGA, meaning make America great again, was 19% a lot and 15% somewhat; Democratic Socialist was 12% a lot and 17% somewhat.
A lot and somewhat totaled 78% for working class; 58% for religious; 58% for Second Amendment advocate; 52% for constitutionalist; 50% for social justice advocate; 47% for politically moderate; 46% for progressive; 42% for capitalist; 41% for fiscal conservative; and 20% for Libertarian.
The terms conservative and liberal were not offered. While Libertarian was offered, no other party such as Republican, Democrat or Green – all of which are officially recognized by the State Board of Elections – were offered as choices.
The Democratic Party, on a national scale, has tension in an ideological tussle for control. Democratic socialism is on the rise, replete with a desire not only for social reforms but also restructuring, including abolishing the U.S. Senate, having Congress pick the president and U.S. Supreme Court, defunding the Pentagon, and allowing all residents, regardless of citizenship, to vote.
What’s commonly called the establishment Democrats, meaning mainstream members supportive of traditional institutional norms and pragmatic changes rather than complete overhauls, are being tested in their “big tent” slogan. Not all candidates connected to the rising tide agree with all tenets, and that’s no different from either main party today or in yesteryear.
The Democratic Socialists of America have endorsed 2026 primary wins or advances to the general election by incumbent U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in New York’s 14th Congressional District, Claire Valdez in New York’s 7th Congressional District and Darializa Avila Chevalier in New York’s 13th Congressional District; Christopher Rabb in Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District; Melat Kiros in Colorado’s 1st Congressional District; Mai Vang in California’s 7th Congressional District; and U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib in Michigan’s 12th Congressional District and Donavan McKinney in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District.
In North Carolina, the lone win on any level is Natalie Bent Kitaif’s primary win for District 1 of the Durham Board of Education. It has losses by Mir Yarfitz in the 10th Congressional District primary and by Kyah Creekmore in the 5th Congressional District.
On its website “about us” section, the Democratic Socialists of America say, “Capitalism is a system designed by the owning class to exploit the rest of us for their own profit. We must replace it with a democratic socialism, a system where ordinary people have a real voice in our workplaces, neighborhoods, and society.
“We want to win ‘radical’ reforms like single-payer Medicare for All, defunding the police/refunding communities, the Green New Deal, and more as a transition to a freer, more just life.”
Ten incumbents from the two major parties in the U.S. House of Representatives this year have lost primaries, matching the 2022 midterms and the most since 2014.