Socialists are winning Democratic primaries. But are they winning over Americans? On paper, many love socialist economic policies but hate the word "socialism." At the same time, they're losing faith in "capitalism," but they still love the "free market." If your head is spinning, you’re not alone. The political debate over economics has become as much about language as policy.
Yes, socialism is gaining ground. Younger voters support it, and it’s gained more footing with Democrats. Voters under 35 prefer socialism to capitalism by 18 points, according to CNBC’s All-America poll.
Why? There are signs that Gen Z isn’t attached to ideological labels. They believe our political and economic system has failed them. “Socialism” is the word they’ve landed on.
That's created a generational divide among Democrats. Democrats under 50 are enthusiastic about socialism, while older Democrats are more lukewarm, according to Echelon Insights, a Republican polling firm. That divide has been on display in primaries from New York City to Michigan, where young Democrats broke with the party's old economic guard.
Some socialists and progressives see all this as proof that there’s growing support to move the United States toward a Nordic welfare state like Denmark, or at the very least, a more robust New Deal.
But most Americans are not on board with socialism—at least as a term. A majority view it negatively. When Gallup asked what people liked about socialism, 30 percent said “nothing.”
At the same time, Americans are losing faith in “capitalism” even though they still like much of what it delivers. A majority still view it favorably, but support has fallen in recent years. When Gallup asked what was bad about capitalism, half said greed and inequality.
The “free market” is a different story. It polls well across the political spectrum. People still like choice, competition, and innovation.
What’s going on here?
Voters aren’t rejecting markets. They’re rejecting a version of capitalism that has come to mean rigged rules, billionaires—and now a trillionaire—and too much wealth and power at the top.
We’re not in French Revolution territory. But many people don’t believe that capitalism still works for working people.
On paper, voters support some socialist-adjacent ideas. When Echelon tested liberal and conservative economic arguments, the liberal one usually won. A majority of Americans want a bigger government that provides more services, business regulation, and health care coverage. They also support higher taxes on high earners.
But they don’t necessarily vote for candidates who support these policies. Once you attach a label or party to them, support falls.
For example, only 43 percent of voters say they would vote for a democratic socialist for president, according to a Washington Post/Ipsos poll. More than half of independents wouldn't.
This same lesson applies to Democrats in less blue terrain. Dan Osborn, the independent running for Senate in Nebraska, is a good case study. In 2024, he ran a populist, pro-worker, anti-corporate campaign. Without a D next to his name, he pulled 47 percent against a Republican incumbent in a state Trump carried by more than 20 points.
Simply put, Americans want a lot of what's on the socialist menu. But when it is time to make a choice, they’re not swiping left for socialists—and, in many places, not for Democrats either.
Ultimately, Americans are hungry for someone to fix a system they no longer trust.
Socialists and economic progressives are showing up with a clear, bold economic agenda. It’s getting buy-in from much of the Democratic base and, depending on the wording, from voters outside it too.
That has put business-minded Democrats on alert. For their part, they need to put forward an affirmative economic vision of their own. They can’t just attack a label that’s no longer toxic inside their party, especially when some of the policies associated with it have support outside the party.
With Republicans already calling Democrats “communists,” their challenge is to separate their policies from any label.
A stronger message for center-left Democrats sounds like this: “I’m not a socialist. I believe in the free market. But America is heading in the wrong direction—and here is exactly what I will do to help you make ends meet.”
In a system that some Americans think is rigged, that’s a strong hand to play.
