Socialism is suddenly mainstream

A Cato Institute poll from June found fifty-three percent of Gen Z support socialism more than capitalism. Fifty-seven percent of people ages eighteen to thirty-four view socialism positively, versus thirty-four percent of people over fifty-five.

But Gen Z doesn't agree what it means

Rachel Janfaza, founder of The Up and Up research firm focused on Gen Z, ran focus groups all summer asking young voters to define socialism. There was no consensus answer among participants.

They mean social safety nets

Young voters talk less about workers controlling production and more about what one twenty-one-year-old from Florida called a social safety net. They associate socialism with affordable housing, healthcare, education, higher minimum wages, and higher taxes on corporations and the wealthy.

“a "social safety net."”

Economic hardship is driving the shift

Gen Z's interest in socialism is tied to deteriorating economic conditions. A twenty-one-year-old from Pennsylvania said he relies on school refunds to pay rent, car payments, insurance, phone and internet bills during the school year.

“"During the school year I am relying on my refunds from school to pay my rent, to pay my car payment and car insurance, phone bill, internet, stuff like that."”

They want politicians who understand them

Young voters consistently told Janfaza they want politicians who understand everyday people and governments that provide social services. A twenty-one-year-old woman from Michigan described her ideal candidate as someone not financially out of touch and who understands the struggles of students, children and families.

“"A political candidate who understands the common person. Someone that's not financially out of touch, who doesn't take money from different corporations."”

They point to Scandinavia as proof

When asked where socialism works, Gen Z rarely mentions Cuba, Venezuela or Soviet Russia. Instead they cite wealthy Western countries. A twenty-one-year-old woman from Massachusetts said Scandinavian countries have socialist policies that provide universal healthcare and allow people to live more comfortably.

“"I think Scandinavian countries and those countries have had socialist policies in place and people end up having universal healthcare."”

They're distant from Cold War history

The oldest Gen Z were born well after the Cold War ended. Young people are more focused on social policies than the core tenets of socialism, with little connection to the Marxist governments their parents and grandparents remember.

But few actually call themselves socialists

Very few young people Janfaza spoke to in recent months have been willing to call themselves a socialist, despite supporting socialist policies. A twenty-one-year-old woman from Massachusetts said she would definitely lean that way, but a nineteen-year-old from Colorado said she leans towards it but hasn't completely been with that party.

“"I would say I lean towards it, but I haven't completely been with that party."”

They reject political labels broadly

Gen Z shows broad skepticism toward political party labels. While leaning into policies associated with socialism, they largely reject labels whether Republican, Democrat or socialist. A twenty-three-year-old woman from Arizona said she is in between democrat and democratic socialist.

“"I would say I'm in between democrat and democratic socialist."”

Democratic Socialists remain a small movement

While polls suggest a sizable number of young Democrats identify as democratic socialist when asked, the Democratic Socialists of America only recently passed one hundred twenty thousand official members, despite unprecedented success in raising their profile and nominating candidates this cycle.

They want results, not ideology

A nineteen-year-old woman from Michigan appreciated that democratic socialists would help meet baseline needs, but when asked if she would label herself that way, said she doesn't know enough about it. Gen Z's socialist turn is conditional on seeing concrete solutions.

“"I feel like I don't know enough about it."”

Their support could shift again

Just as Gen Z was presumed to be woke Democrats four years ago and then swung hard to Trump and MAGA in twenty twenty-four, the socialist turn is just as conditional. Young people are looking for concrete solutions, not dogma, and if they don't see results, they'll look elsewhere.