Nearly half of Americans between the ages of 18 and 34 would support replacing capitalism with socialism, according to preliminary polling that reveals a stark generational divide as democratic socialist candidates gain ground ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The ongoing national survey from icitizen found that 48% of adults ages 18 to 34 supported socialism as an alternative to capitalism, compared with 29% of respondents age 50 and older. Among all participants, however, 62% rejected replacing capitalism with socialism.
The results suggest that capitalism retains broad support nationally while facing substantially greater skepticism among younger Americans. Within the youngest group surveyed, opposition to socialism stood at 52%, creating an almost even division.
"Younger generations are questioning traditional economic structures at dramatically higher rates than their parents and grandparents," icitizen CEO Tony Harkin said in a statement.
"As we approach the upcoming elections, this generational split on core economic philosophy could prove pivotal for policy debates," he added.
The survey also found sharp partisan differences. Ninety-six percent of Republicans and 72% of independents opposed replacing capitalism with socialism, while 73% of Democrats supported doing so. Women expressed greater support for socialism than men, 39% to 27%.
The findings arrive as democratic socialist and left-wing candidates are attempting to convert enthusiasm for policies such as Medicare for All, stronger labor protections, public housing and higher taxes on wealthy Americans into electoral victories.
One of the movement's most significant midterm breakthroughs came in Colorado, where 29-year-old attorney and doctoral student Melat Kiros defeated longtime Rep. Diana DeGette in the Democratic primary for the Denver-based 1st Congressional District. DeGette had represented the district for nearly three decades.
Kiros, who describes herself as a democratic socialist, was endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America and Sen. Bernie Sanders. Her platform includes Medicare for All, abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement and changing U.S. policy toward Israel. She now advances to the November general election in a heavily Democratic district, according to the Associated Press.
Democratic socialist candidates also scored victories in New York congressional primaries, building on the political organization that helped elect New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. DSA-backed candidates Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier won their respective Democratic contests, while former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander defeated Rep. Dan Goldman with support from the city's ascendant left-wing coalition.
In Florida, state Rep. Angie Nixon, a democratic socialist, won the Democratic nomination for a U.S. House seat after defeating a more moderate opponent. Her general-election campaign presents a different test from those in safely Democratic urban districts because she is competing in more difficult political territory.
The left's momentum has also reached the Senate map. Abdul El-Sayed, a physician and former public health official who supports Medicare for All and has been associated with the party's democratic socialist wing, won the Democratic nomination for Michigan's open Senate seat. He will face Republican Mike Rogers in a closely watched contest that could affect control of the chamber. Former Vice President Kamala Harris and other national Democrats have rallied behind El-Sayed following a divisive primary, the Associated Press reported.
The success of these candidates does not mean that socialism has become the dominant position within the Democratic Party. Many Democratic nominees continue to identify as liberals or progressives rather than socialists, while establishment-aligned candidates prevailed in numerous primaries. The term "socialism" also carries different meanings for different voters, ranging from government ownership of major industries to support for European-style social programs within a market economy.
The icitizen findings require additional caution. The survey is an online opt-in poll rather than a traditional probability-based sample in which participants are randomly selected. That means respondents chose to participate, potentially making them more politically engaged than the broader electorate. Although the results were weighted, they should not be treated as a definitive measurement of all U.S. adults.
The poll opened Sept. 3 and will continue accepting responses through Oct. 3. The preliminary results include 1,564 responses collected through Sept. 15. Because participation remains open, the toplines could change before the survey closes.
Still, the demographic patterns align with a visible shift inside Democratic politics. Younger voters are not only more receptive to the socialist label but are also helping candidates associated with it challenge established officeholders.
The November elections will not constitute a national referendum on socialism, but they will show whether the movement's support among younger voters can translate beyond Democratic primaries and into broader electoral coalitions.
