Study: Gen Z warming up to socialism

Amid Tuesday’s election of socialist mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, more than 65% of 18-to-34-year-olds hold a positive or neutral view of socialism, according to a recent Axios study.

The survey specifically analyzed Gen Z’s reaction to current political circumstances, including the 2026 midterm elections, the government shutdown and President Donald Trump’s work in office.

A staggering 80% said they “strongly” or “somewhat disapprove” of Trump’s performance as president.  

In the 2024 presidential election, 56% of the respondents voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris and only 14% voted for Trump, while 16% said they did not vote. 

Nearly three-fourths of respondents (74%) said abortion should be legal in “all” or “most cases.  

Almost all respondents (94%) said they were “extremely,” “very” or “somewhat” concerned about costs including rent, gas and groceries. While 35% of respondents believe Democrats would lower the cost of living, only 11% trust Republicans to do so.  

Mamdani promises to freeze rent, but economic experts say such a program would damage the market because landlords, contractors and developers will “flee.” 

While 76% of those surveyed said they have a “very negative,” “somewhat negative” or “neutral” reaction to the word “capitalism,” 67% hold a “very positive,” “somewhat positive,” or “neutral” response to the word “socialism.” 

More than a third of respondents (34%) said their views on socialism are either “very positive” or “somewhat positive.” 

Gen Z’s views on socialism are certainly the most radical nationally, as Americans’ stance on socialism has remained more negative (57%) than positive (39%), according to a recent Gallup poll.  

The same poll, however, reported a six-percentage-point drop in favorable views on capitalism – from 60% to 54% nationally. 

Republicans overwhelmingly support capitalism (74%) above socialism (14%), but 62% of Democrats favor socialism compared to 42% who favor capitalism, Gallup reports. Independents classically split the middle with 51% pro-capitalism and 38% pro-socialism. 

Yale University’s Buckley Institute conducted a similar survey of undergraduates in September, finding 36% of students preferred socialism over capitalism when asked. The survey also found signifiant numbers of students supported cancel culture and even violence against speech they find offensive. 

“America’s college students support shout downs and violence to stop offensive speech at an alarming rate, particularly worrying in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination,” said Buckley Institute Executive Director Lauren Noble. “And they have a concerning predilection for the Cuban and Soviet economies. American higher education is in trouble.”