Poll: Americans views of socialism little changed despite recent elections

By Dan McCaleb
The Center Square

Despite the 2025 elections of self-proclaimed socialists Zohran Mamdani and Katie Wilson as mayors of New York City and Seattle, respectively, the number of American voters who have a favorable view of socialism has remained little changed over the past several years, according to polling from Napolitan News Service.

The latest survey finds that 49% of American voters have an unfavorable opinion of socialism compared to 31% who have a favorable opinion. Another 20% are not sure. Of those, 12% said they had a “very favorable” opinion and 28% said they had a “very unfavorable” view.

Pollster Scott Rasmussen, president of RMG Research, said, “these figures are little changed from five or ten years ago.”

“The perception conveyed by many in political and media circles that support for Socialism is growing is likely fueled by two factors. First, a number of Democratic Socialist candidates have won primary elections recently and last year Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor of New York,” Napolitan News Service, which publishes Rasmussen’s polls, said in a news release. “Second, among the politically obsessed – those who talk politics daily – 50% have a favorable opinion of socialism. Among the vast majority of voters who talk politics no more than once a week, that number shrinks to just 23%.”

Separately, Napolitan asked voters about their views on free markets. A large majority, 59%, has a favorable view of free markets, while just 18% do not.

“This suggests that socialism is growing more popular among political activists on the left, but not among the American people,” Napolitan said. “More than anything else, it’s a reflection of our 10-10-80 nation. Ten percent on the left are engaged in a bitter political war with 10% on the right. The 80% are trying to keep their heads down, live their lives, and avoid getting caught in the crossfire.”