White Democrats more likely than black and Hispanic Democrats to describe Sanders' political views as liberal % of Democrats and Democratic leaners who say the political views of each are
White Democrats (83%) are far more likely than either black Democrats (47%) or Hispanic Democrats (57%) to describe Sanders’ views as liberal. Larger shares of black (23%) and Hispanic Democrats (18%) than white Democrats (10%) say they are not sure how to describe Sanders’ political views.
When it comes to views of Biden’s ideology, differences in views by race and ethnicity are more modest than in views of Sanders. However, white Democrats (37%) are more likely than black Democrats (24%) or Hispanic Democrats (22%) to view him as moderate. As with views of Sanders, a larger share of black and Hispanic than white Democrats say they aren’t sure how to describe Biden’s political views. (These patterns hold even among those who follow political and election news very or somewhat closely.)
Majorities of Democrats across age groups view Sanders as liberal, with relatively modest differences from one age group to the next – the exception being Democrats ages 65 and older, who overwhelmingly say Sanders is liberal (81%). However, there is an age gap in views of Biden: Nearly half of Democrats 65 and older (45%) say Biden’s views are moderate, while 31% say he is liberal and just 13% call him conservative. Among Democrats ages 18 to 29, by contrast, nearly as many describe Biden’s views as conservative (28%) as liberal (31%), while 20% view him as moderate.
White Democrats more likely than black and Hispanic Democrats to describe  | Sanders' political views as liberal  | % of Democrats and Democratic leaners who say the political views of each are  | Liberal  | Conservative  | Not sure  | Moderate  | Joe Biden  | Bernie Sanders  | All Dem/  | All Dem  | 70  | 31  | 31  | 20  | 16  | 6 8 14  | Lean Dem  | Lean Dem  | White  | White  | 24 10  | 33  | 37  | 18  | 12  | 83  | Black  | 32  | 24  | 22  | 21  | Black  | 47  | 14 15  | 23  | Hispanic  | Hispanic  | 28  | 22  | 25  | 23  | 57  | 8 15  | 18  | Ages 18-29  | Ages 18-29  | 31  | 20  | 28  | 20  | 70  | 58 15  | 30-49  | 30-49  | 32  | 30  | 19  | 20  | 68  | 9 16  | 50-64  | 50-64  | 31  | 36  | 18  | 13  | 66  | 9  | 10 15  | 65+  | 31  | 45  | 13  | 65+  | 81  | 35 10  | 9  | College grad+  | College grad+  | 37  | 40  | 16  | 89  | 334  | College Some college  | College Some college  | 28  | 26  | 22  | 22  | 59  | 8 11  | 20  | or less  | or less  | Liberal  | Liberal  | 34  | 33  | 36  | 21  | 86  | Cons/ Mod  | 30  | 28  | 19  | 21  | Cons/ Mod  | 59  | 12  | 19  | Notes: Respondents who did not give an answer not shown. Whites and blacks include only those who are not Hispanic;  | Hispanics are of any race.  | Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted Feb. 18-March 2, 2020.  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 