Positive Views of Socialism Reach Highest Level in 15 Years, Gallup Finds

Forty-three percent of Americans now hold a positive view of socialism, the highest share Gallup has recorded since it began tracking the question in 2010, according to a poll released Wednesday.

The August survey asked respondents whether they view socialism, capitalism, free enterprise, big business and small business positively or negatively. Capitalism still outperforms socialism, with 55% of Americans viewing it positively, but that number has slipped 6 points since 2010. Views of big business fell 14 points over the same period and free enterprise dropped 9 points. Small business is the only category that has not lost ground.

For much of the past 15 years, socialism’s rising popularity was driven mainly by Democrats, whose positive view of it climbed from 50% in 2010 to 66% last year. This year’s uptick, however, came largely from political independents, whose favorable rating jumped from 37% in 2025 to 45%. Currently, 65% of Democrats view socialism positively compared with 14% of Republicans.

Age plays a significant role in the divide. Adults 18 to 34 favor socialism over capitalism, 57% to 43%, while those 55 and older favor capitalism over socialism, 65% to 34%. Adults 35 to 54 rate the two systems about evenly.

What’s driving the shift

Costas Panagopoulos, a political science professor at Northeastern University, told Fox News Digital that independents’ changing views may reflect frustration with the current system. “For Independents, whose views are driven least by partisan attachments, perceptions about socialism are gaining in favorability in part because they feel betrayed, overlooked or neglected by modern American capitalism,” he said.

Gallup’s own summary noted that “capitalism, free enterprise and especially big business are viewed less positively than they once were, while socialism has gained ground,” adding that the trend has been strongest among Democrats and younger adults but that this year’s shift among independents is new.

Not everyone reads the numbers as a genuine embrace of socialism. Lucas Holtz, a senior political advisor at the center-left group Third Way, argued the poll reflects dissatisfaction with the economy rather than support for socialist policy. “The Gallup poll isn’t evidence of Americans embracing socialism—it’s evidence that Americans are rejecting the economic status quo. When we look a single layer beneath to ask whether voters support socialist policies, support completely collapses,” Holtz said.

“Working-class Americans are pissed about the costs of everyday life and the economy, but it’s off base to think that a majority of Democrats and independents would back wholesale DSA socialism,” he continued.

Holtz cited a separate Third Way poll finding that Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents prefer “capitalism with guardrails” over socialism by 24 points. He also pointed to polling from Echelon Insights showing socialism is 33 points underwater with independents, and that specific policies associated with the Democratic Socialists of America poll poorly across the board. According to that data, 73% of voters overall — and 77% of independents — said they would be less likely to back a candidate who supports abolishing police and prisons. Ending all immigration detention and deportations made 43% of voters, and 42% of independents, less likely to support a candidate. Government ownership of major transportation and energy infrastructure made 39% of voters, and 44% of independents, less likely to back a candidate.

A New York backdrop

The poll arrives as socialist-aligned candidates have notched wins in New York politics. Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist, was sworn in as New York City mayor this year. He also helped boost three congressional candidates — Brad Lander, Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier — to victory in New York’s primary election in June.