Why centrism is losing steam

Centrism is losing popularity, new data shows. Will Democrats listen?
Across the Sun Belt, an economic populist message is outpolling conventional centrism

By Russell Payne
Staff Reporter
Published April 29, 2026 6:30AM (EDT)


(Salon) Although Democrats seem increasingly well-positioned to make significant gains in the House and potentially even the Senate in the 2026 midterms, the party’s collapse in 2024 has sparked an ongoing battle over how to woo the voters they need. New polling data, provided to Salon by Way to Win, a Democratic donor network and strategy group, suggests that the best way to reach key voters may not be in the centrist messaging favored by many in the party, but by a broad anti-corporate, economic and populist message.

The survey of 1,282 likely voters, conducted by Impact Research and Lake Research Partners, asked Sun Belt voters in Arizona, Georgia, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina and Texas whether or not they preferred a populist economic message or a traditional centrist message across a variety of issues.

Jen Ancona, the chief strategy officer at Way to Win, told Salon that they focused on the Sun Belt in particular because it is less favorable terrain for Democrats and that the party will need to learn to compete there in future elections.

“The Sun Belt is tougher terrain for Democrats, but it’s necessary to fight on that terrain, and Trump has turned into a millstone around Republicans’ neck, which is really giving Democrats an opening,” Ancona said. “In fact, in Southern battleground districts, the percentage of Democrats saying they are ‘extremely’ motivated to vote more than doubles that of Republicans, 72% to 34% — that’s a massive boon to Democrats.” ....................(more)

https://www.salon.com/2026/04/29/centrism-is-losing-popularity-new-data-shows-will-democrats-listen/