A new poll by The Heartland Institute and Rasmussen Reports of 1,000 likely voters, conducted December 6-7, 2020, finds that a vast majority of likely voters prefer a free-market economic system as opposed to a socialist economic system.
The poll comes after a November election in which socialist candidates made important inroads, including in state legislatures and the U.S. Congress. Despite this, the new poll conducted by Heartland/Rasmussen shows that an overwhelming majority of likely voters reject socialism, as well as the torchbearer of socialism in the United States, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).
Below are some highlights of the poll, which is available in full at the end of this article.
When asked, “Which is better – a free-market economic system or socialism?,” 75 percent of respondents answered “free-market economic system,” while just 11 percent answered “socialism” and 14 percent were undecided.
Interestingly, the poll further revealed most likely voters have a decidedly negative view of America’s most prominent socialist, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). When asked, “Do you have a very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable or very unfavorable impression of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez?,” only 18 percent said “very favorable,” while 19 percent said “somewhat favorable.” On the other hand, 38 percent of likely voters said they have a “very unfavorable” impression of AOC, and 10 percent said they have a “somewhat unfavorable” impression of her.
Taken together, these results show that a strong majority of likely voters believe the United States should retain its free-market economy. The results also demonstrate that most likely voters are less than enthusiastic about the left’s embrace of socialism.
Further, when asked, “Do you have a very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable or very unfavorable impression of Joe Biden?,” 36 percent of likely voters said they have a “very unfavorable impression” of the president-elect. This was followed by 32 percent who said they have a “very favorable impression” and 19 percent who said they have a “somewhat favorable impression” of Biden. Further, 11 percent responded that they have a “somewhat unfavorable impression” of the next president and 2 percent said they were “not sure.”
National Survey of 1,000 Likely Voters on Socialism
Conducted December 6-7, 2020
By The Heartland Institute and Rasmussen Reports
1* Which is better – a free-market economic system or socialism?
75% A free-market economic system
11% Socialism
14% Not sure
2* Do you have a very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable or very unfavorable impression of Joe Biden?
32% Very favorable
19% Somewhat favorable
11% Somewhat unfavorable
36% Very unfavorable
2% Not sure
3* Do you have a very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable or very unfavorable impression of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez?
18% Very favorable
19% Somewhat favorable
10% Somewhat unfavorable
38% Very unfavorable
15% Not sure
NOTE: Margin of Sampling Error, +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.
Justin Haskins is a New York Times bestselling author and political commentator, the president and founder of The Henry Dearborn Liberty Network, and the director of the Socialism Research Center at The Heartland Institute, a national free-market think tank. (His work here does not necessarily reflect the views of The Heartland Institute.) Follow him on Twitter @JustinTHaskins.
