A Shocking Number of Democrats Now Approve of Socialism According to New CBS News Poll

According to a new CBS News poll, 58% of Democrats now approve of socialism, with the highest number coming from Democrats with college degrees.

Apparently, colleges and universities no longer teach accurate history because if they did, no one would approve of socialism. It has failed everywhere it has been tried and typically leaves a trail of dead bodies in its wake.

The poll did find that capitalism is still more popular with Americans, overall.

From CBS News:

CBS News poll on whether Democrats split over socialism, and how Americans see parties in today’s economy

Most Americans believe a free market system is a good thing.

Americans are net-negative on socialism. Capitalism is better-liked.

But those ideas aside, right now they say it’s harder now to do things like buy a house, raise a family, and to just feel financially secure than for the last generation. Younger people are especially apt to feel opportunities are fewer.

So most also call the current U.S. economic system unfair, in terms of the way it works for chances to get ahead.

That has downstream effects on politics, including those seen in this year’s Democratic primary battles:

The Democratic rank-and-file does have a higher view of socialism than capitalism.

How these views are getting expressed in the parties

Unlike the public overall, Democrats are mostly positive on socialism and have a more favorable impression of it than of capitalism.

Socialism finds more positive views among Democrats with college degrees than those without. They’re even more likely to perceive a gap between the richest and the middle class. And less likely to say the Democratic Party is “effective.”

Younger Democrats more than older ones, and White Democrats more than other racial groups tend to have more favorable views of socialism.

In particular, Democrats feel socialism would make their own finances better and that on balance, capitalism makes them worse.

These numbers are completely insane.

Six in ten Democrats have a positive view of socialism, according to a new CBS News poll. Among Democrats with a college degree (or more), that number goes up to 71%. pic.twitter.com/4GCkDN08y8

— Tom Bevan (@TomBevanRCP) August 17, 2026

These CBS numbers are deeply alarming.

Democrats overwhelmingly support socialism and overwhelmingly oppose capitalism.

Socialism results in misery and poverty every time it is tried.

We must never allow the socialists to take power. pic.twitter.com/AuIh3TG5MY

— Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) August 17, 2026

Embracing socialism would absolutely ruin this country.

It’s sad that so many people can’t see that clearly.