A recent CNN poll found that 58 percent of voters believe the Democratic Party is “too liberal,” marking the highest level measured in nearly 30 years of tracking.

CNN data analyst Harry Enten cited the survey results in an analysis this week, pointing to long-term ideological shifts within the party as a contributing factor to the growing perception among voters.

According to the data referenced by Enten, the party’s internal ideological makeup has changed significantly since the late 1990s. In 1999, approximately 26 percent of Democrats identified as conservative, while only 5 percent described themselves as very liberal. Today, just 8 percent identify as conservative, while 21 percent say they are very liberal. When combined with those who identify as somewhat liberal, nearly three in five Democrats now place themselves on the liberal end of the spectrum.

Enten argued that the party’s ideological center has moved leftward over time, noting that progressive candidates have gained traction in recent primary contests. He referenced recent results in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District as an example of that shift.

Additional 2025 survey data cited in the segment found that roughly one-third of Democrats identify as Democratic socialists. Among Democrats under age 35, that figure rises to 42 percent.

Enten compared the current findings to prior years, noting that 42 percent of voters said Democrats were too liberal in 1996 and 48 percent in 2013, compared to 58 percent today.

The polling suggests that voter perceptions of the party’s ideological direction have shifted substantially, with a clear majority now saying Democrats have moved too far left.