• Given a choice between 4 candidates of equal skills and temperament, 34% of voters would prefer a candidate who advocates Trump-like policies.
  • A Napolitan News survey of 9,612 Registered Voters in September found that 21% would favor a traditional Democrat, 19% a candidate advocating policies like those of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and 17% a candidate advocating traditional Republican policies.
• Over the past 5 years, a plurality has always favored a candidate offering Trump-like policies.
  • The number preferring Trump-like policies is the same as a month ago, down 1 point from two months ago, and down 4 from the beginning of 2025.
  • The number preferring a candidate with Trump-like policies has ranged from a low of 31% in April 2024 to a high of 38% several times, most recently in January 2025.
  • When President Trump won the 2024 election, 37% of voters preferred a candidate advocating policies like his.

Note: Since October 2020, we have asked this question, but about a candidate supporting Senator Bernie Sanders' policies, rather than about AOC's. August was the first complete month using AOC in place of Bernie Sanders. When we started this series in 2020, Bernie Sanders was the leading voice of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. Now, AOC has taken on that role. It is appropriate, therefore, to make changes to our question wording to reflect that reality. The change from Bernie Sanders to AOC had no impact on Trump and Traditional Republican figures.