CNN Poll Shows Democrats Shift Toward Palestinians in Eight-Year Turnabout

New polling presented by CNN’s data analyst Harry Enten shows a dramatic realignment in Democratic Party attitudes toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In 2017, Democrats said they sympathized more with Israelis than Palestinians by 13 percentage points. The latest survey, released this week, finds the margin has swung to a 43-point advantage for Palestinians—a 56-point shift in just eight years. The movement is even more pronounced among Democrats under 50. Voters aged 18–49 favored Israelis by 14 points eight years ago; they now side with Palestinians by 57 points, marking a 71-point swing. Analysts said the change helps explain the electoral success of progressive figures such as New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, who has emphasized pro-Palestinian positions without facing the backlash that once would have been expected within the party.