Democrats Now View Socialism More Favorably Than Capitalism, Polls Show

Socialism, a word that for decades has provoked strong rejection in American politics, is finding a very different landscape within the Democratic Party.

A new CBS News poll shows that Democrats currently have a more favorable impression of socialism than capitalism, a trend supported by other recent surveys. The data raises a question that could weigh on the 2026 elections and the 2028 presidential race: are Democratic voters ideologically shifting to the left or expressing frustration with an economic system they consider increasingly unfair?

• Why it matters: The growing acceptance of socialism among Democrats could strengthen the progressive wing and modify the economic debate within the party. But there is a significant obstacle: outside Democratic ranks, the term continues to encounter considerable resistance.

Socialism Gains Ground Among Democrats

CBS News found a striking difference between the general opinion of the country and that of Democrats. While Americans as a whole maintain a more positive view of capitalism than socialism and a majority consider the free market good for the economy, among Democrats the opposite occurs: socialism receives a more favorable assessment.

That does not mean, however, that most Democrats identify as socialists or automatically support socialist organizations’ proposals. The survey measures favorable perceptions of political and economic concepts.

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN: The U.S. will issue commemorative passports with an image of Trump starting in August

CBS also found significant differences in what Americans understand by «socialism.» Republicans and independents more frequently mention government control or ownership, while Democrats tend to associate it with equality, justice, and public services.

Age also plays a role. Younger Democrats show more favorable opinions towards socialism than older ones.

Other Surveys Show the Same Shift

CBS News is not the only measurement detecting this trend. Gallup has been tracking Democrats’ opinions on socialism since 2010. According to data cited by USA Today, 50% then had a favorable image. The figure reached 57% in 2018, 65% in 2021, and hit 66% in its September measurement.

Additionally, the perception of capitalism followed the opposite path among Democrats: it fell from 51% to 42% during that period. Since 2018, according to those data, socialism has received a more positive assessment than capitalism within the party.

A Fox News survey also found that 52% of Democrats have a favorable opinion of socialism.

The organization Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) also gets better numbers among this electorate. A Marquette survey showed that 42% of Democrats had a favorable opinion of the group, compared to 17% who expressed an unfavorable opinion.

Do Democrats Really Want a Socialist President?

A Washington Post-Ipsos survey adds another dimension to the debate: approximately three out of four Democrats said they would be open to voting for a democratic socialist for president.

But again, a significant difference appears between the Democratic base and the country. 55% of all American adults said they would not be open to that possibility.

The contrast helps to dimension the political challenge. An idea or label can gain enough acceptance to influence Democratic primaries and, at the same time, become a vulnerability when the candidate must win over independent voters or compete in a national election.

CBS also found that approximately half of Democrats consider their party already as progressive as it should be, while the other half believes it is not progressive enough.

The Economy Could Explain Part of the Shift

The numbers do not necessarily reflect solely an ideological change. CBS News found that many Americans currently consider it more difficult than for previous generations to buy a home, form a family, or achieve economic security.

The majority also considers the current functioning of the economic system unfair in terms of opportunities for advancement. This discontent may be important for understanding why certain ideas associated with socialism find greater acceptance.

Among Democrats, there is also a demand for economic proposals that represent significant changes and a perception that the party should fight harder for its interests.

Even electoral results show that the landscape is not uniform. Democratic socialist Francesca Hong lost the Democratic primary for governor of Wisconsin on August 11 to David Crowley, backed by establishment figures, despite earlier polls placing her in a favorable position.

In other words, a better image of socialism does not guarantee victories for candidates who adopt that label, according to USA Today.

POLL: Positive View of Socialism vs. Capitalism Among Democrats

-SOCIALISM: 58%
-CAPITALISM: 32% pic.twitter.com/8AH0iKOera

— America (@america) August 16, 2026

The Dilemma That Could Reach 2026 and 2028

For the Democratic Party, the trend presents an opportunity and a risk. A base demanding deeper economic changes could drive progressive candidates and proposals in the 2026 primaries and eventually influence the 2028 presidential race.

Republicans, on the other hand, could use this movement to portray their rivals as too far from the political center, especially since socialism continues to be unpopular among a significant part of the national electorate.

There appears the contradiction that Democrats will have to resolve: what excites a growing part of their voters could complicate the search for support outside the party. The surveys still do not allow us to conclude that Democrats have become a socialist party. They do show that a historically controversial label is losing some of its negative charge within their ranks.

The big question heading into the next elections will be to determine what is behind this change: a true ideological shift to the left or, primarily, the rejection of many voters of capitalism as they feel it currently functions?