From TIME · Miranda Jeyaretnam · · 2m
Socialism surges in US popularity polls
Forty-three percent of Americans now view socialism positively, the highest share since Gallup began tracking in 2010, driven by growing support among Democrats and young people.
In brief
Forty-three percent of Americans now view socialism positively, the highest share since Gallup began tracking in 2010, driven by growing support among Democrats and young people. Socialism's approval among Americans has reached its highest level since twenty ten, with Democrats and younger voters driving the shift as…
Socialism hits record approval
Forty-three percent of Americans view socialism positively, the highest share since Gallup began tracking in twenty ten.
Capitalism and free enterprise fade
Capitalism's approval fell to fifty-five percent from sixty-one percent in twenty ten. Free enterprise dropped to seventy-seven percent from eighty-nine percent in twenty twelve.
Big business loses ground fastest
Big business approval fell to thirty-five percent from a peak of fifty-eight percent in twenty twelve, now ranking below socialism.
Democrats drive the shift
Most gains came from Democrats. Sixty-five percent of Democrats now view socialism positively, up from fifty percent in twenty ten.
Socialists win Democratic primaries
Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist, won New York City Mayor last year. In June, all three of his endorsed candidates defeated establishment Democrats in congressional primaries.
Progressive wins across the country
Democratic socialists and progressives won primaries for Senate and House seats in Michigan, Minnesota, Colorado, and Pennsylvania. One narrowly lost a Wisconsin gubernatorial race.
Republicans see leftward shift
Republicans portrayed primary victories as proof the Democratic Party moved too far left. The House voted to denounce socialism twice in recent months.
Democrats now prefer socialism
A CBS/YouGov poll found fifty-eight percent of Democrats view socialism positively versus thirty-two percent for capitalism. College-educated Democrats favored socialism at seventy-one percent.
Independents warming to socialism
Socialism approval among independents rose to forty-five percent from thirty-seven percent. It now surpasses big business, which fell to thirty-two percent among this group.
Republicans remain skeptical
Only fourteen percent of Republicans view socialism positively. Large majorities of Republicans favor small business, free enterprise, and capitalism.
Young Americans embrace socialism
Fifty-seven percent of Americans aged eighteen to thirty-four view socialism positively, compared with forty-three percent for capitalism. Eighty percent say homeownership is harder for their generation.
Older voters prefer capitalism
Sixty-five percent of Americans aged fifty-five and older view capitalism positively, while only thirty-four percent view socialism positively. Sixty-one percent of those under thirty call the economy unfair.
At a glance
Socialism's approval among Americans has reached its highest level since twenty ten, with Democrats and younger voters driving the shift as progressive candidates win primary contests.
