For decades, American political discourse has been punctuated by accusations of socialism, often lobbed by Republicans at their Democratic opponents as a means to paint them as out of touch with mainstream values. But new polling and recent political developments suggest that the label "socialist" may not sting as it once did—at least, not within the Democratic Party itself.
According to a Gallup poll released on September 9, 2025, only 42 percent of Democrats now view capitalism favorably, while a striking 66 percent say they have a positive view of socialism. This marks a dramatic shift in attitudes over the past 15 years, with Democrats steadily warming to socialist ideas and distancing themselves from capitalism. The poll, conducted in August among 1,094 U.S. adults, found that this trend is especially pronounced among younger Democrats under the age of 50, who are far less likely than older party members to view capitalism in a positive light. As Gallup notes, "the results show a gradual but persistent shift in Democrats’ support for the two ideologies over the past 15 years, with socialism rising as capitalism falls."
This ideological transformation has real-world political consequences. The most visible evidence arrived with the recent Democratic primary victory of Zohran Mamdani in the race for New York City mayor. Mamdani, a 33-year-old member of the New York State Assembly and a self-identified democratic socialist, has run on a platform that includes raising the minimum wage to $30 an hour, launching city-run grocery stores, and implementing a host of taxpayer-funded initiatives. His campaign has drawn endorsements from prominent national figures on the party’s left, including Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, both of whom have been vocal about their own democratic socialist beliefs.
Yet not all Democrats are celebrating this leftward shift. Some centrist and establishment figures are sounding alarms about the party’s direction. During an interview with CBS New York’s Marcia Kramer, Representative Tom Suozzi was asked whether House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries should endorse Mamdani. Suozzi didn’t mince words: "It would be bad for the Democrats," he said, praising capitalism and arguing that socialism has "failed" in the United States. New York City Mayor Eric Adams, running as an independent in the mayoral race, and Representative Laura Gillen have also described Mamdani as "too extreme to lead" the city. The anxiety among moderates is palpable, as they worry that Mamdani’s win—and the broader embrace of socialism—could redefine the Democratic Party’s national brand and alienate moderate voters.
Republicans, for their part, see an opportunity. House Speaker Mike Johnson told the Daily Caller News Foundation in July, "Democrats, who have learned nothing from their historic defeat in 2024, are rallying around a radical, Antisemitic, abolish-ICE, defund-the-police, big-government Marxist. Comrade Mamdani’s extreme views are bad news for New York City, but great news for House Republicans." Former President Donald Trump has gone so far as to label Mamdani a "Communist," amplifying a message that Republicans hope will resonate with voters wary of radical change.
Political analyst Chris Cillizza, speaking on his YouTube channel Tuesday, echoed these concerns from a strategic standpoint. "I guess it’s not terribly surprising, but I do think if I am a Democrat who wants to win the 2028 election … That would worry me candidly because socialism broadly will not sell," he said, referencing the Gallup poll numbers. Cillizza argued that, "if Democrats are branded socialists—and numbers like this make it pretty easy to do that honestly and factual to do it—I do not think that they will win." He urged prominent figures like Mamdani, Sanders, and Ocasio-Cortez to stop using the term "socialist" and instead talk about "economic populism" to broaden their appeal. "Socialism will not sell to the broad swath of the American public. It is a loser. And even if your base views it positively, don’t talk about it," Cillizza added, warning that Republicans would seize on the label to attack Democrats in upcoming elections.
The ideological engine powering much of this shift is the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), an organization that, while not a formal political party, has seen its members rise through Democratic ranks in cities like New York and Minneapolis. Both Mamdani and Minneapolis mayoral candidate Omar Fateh are under 40, charismatic, Muslim, and active DSA members. The DSA’s platform is unapologetically radical: it calls for abolishing the Senate and Electoral College, closing prisons, fighting "white supremacy" through reparations and diversity policies, and empowering labor unions with demands such as a four-day, 32-hour work week without a reduction in pay. The organization also advocates for nationalization of key industries, free health care, free college, and a host of other government-provided services.
According to The Federalist, the DSA aims to fundamentally change the United States, describing the Constitution as "ossified" and proposing the creation of a "new political order" with "founding documents of a new socialist democracy." The platform’s language, critics argue, is often cloaked in jargon, but its goals are clear: a sweeping transformation of American political, economic, and social life. The DSA’s influence, some warn, is making it harder for traditional Democratic candidates to rise within the party, as the organization’s members and ideas gain traction.
The Democratic Party’s internal debate is intensifying as younger members and activists push for bold change while moderates urge caution. The Gallup poll underscores this generational divide, showing that Democrats under 50 are driving much of the shift toward socialism, while older members remain more skeptical. The question facing the party is whether this new ideological orientation will mobilize a broader coalition of voters—or alienate moderates and independents who have traditionally been key to national victories.
Meanwhile, Republicans are preparing to capitalize on what they see as a "gigantic vulnerability." As Cillizza put it, "I see that as a gigantic place for Republicans to attack, to call the Democratic Party a bunch of socialists, to say they don’t love capitalism, they don’t believe in the free market. Those are things that I think Democrats have to worry about." The upcoming 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential race will test whether the party’s leftward lurch is a winning formula or a political liability.
Whether Democrats will double down on their embrace of socialism or heed the warnings of their more centrist members remains to be seen. What’s clear is that the party is at a crossroads, with its future direction—and perhaps the country’s—hanging in the balance.
