Why socialism resonates with Gen Z and Millennials across the US

Money Control ^ | Sep 28, 2025

[CondoleezzaProtege]

For many young Americans, the 2008 financial crisis was more than a downturn; it was a defining life event. Families lost homes to predatory mortgages, jobs vanished overnight, and college graduates faced bleak opportunities. For organizers like Gabe Tobias, watching low-income immigrant families lose everything to adjustable-rate mortgages was transformative. The crisis convinced many that capitalism itself was stacked against working people, a belief that would later fuel their political activism, the Wall Street Journal reported…

Polling shows that socialism resonates strongly with younger Americans. A YouGov survey this year found 62% of people aged 18 to 29 held a favourable view of socialism—an unimaginable figure during the Cold War. For many, the ideology is less about Marxist theory and more about housing, healthcare, and wages. As tenants’ rights organizer Genevieve Rand put it, “Why should I care about saving democracy if it can’t provide me a home or food I can afford?” This practical framing has broadened socialism’s appeal and pulled it into the political mainstream.

Mamdani, who won the Democratic primary for New York mayor in June, represents the culmination of nearly two decades of grassroots work. His charisma, use of social media, and ability to mobilize immigrant communities mattered—but so did the seasoned network of organizers forged through crises, campaigns, and movements since 2008. His victory signals that socialist politics is not only viable in America’s biggest city but potentially ascendant.

…Groups like the DSA Fund are now focused on governance, not just winning campaigns. The goal, they argue, is to turn electoral victories into durable policies on rent control, healthcare, and climate. For Tobias and others, Mamdani’s rise is “just step one” in a longer fight that began with the trauma of 2008 and continues to shape America’s political future…

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TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: handouts; medicare; socialsecurity; welfare

[MinorityRepublican]

As those two age groups die off, American voters will move steadily to the Political Left.

Not true.

[Bikkuri]

Because they weren’t taught HISTORY, or anything else useful.

[zeestephen]

Re: "Not true"

I disagree.

- NEP Poll - 2024

All Hispanic Voters

Kamala - 51%

Trump - 46%

All White Voters

Kamala - 42%

Trump - 57%

When white USA voters die, every other ethnic group majority supports the Democrats.

https://ropercenter.cornell.edu/how-groups-voted-2024

[MinorityRepublican]

When white USA voters die, every other ethnic group majority supports the Democrats.

Texas is 40% Hispanic and Florida is 26% Hispanic.

For Texas, exit‑poll data analyzed by the Texas Politics Project shows 55% of Latino voters backed Trump.

For Florida, the Instituto Cervantes study (analyzing NEP and UnidosUS polls) reports 58% Trump vs. 42% Harris.

[Lockbox]

The Democrats / Socialists / Communists

[zeestephen]

The Florida Hispanic majority is 1960 Castro Cuban.

A huge majority of the 1960 Cubans, and their children and grand children, are still concentrated in south Florida.

A majority of them trace their ancestors to Europe - not Cuba.

I do not know enough about Texas to comment. I will have to research your 55% Latino number and comment later.

I do know the Hispanic vote in California, New Mexico, and metro New York City is heavily Democrat, which is obvious from the 2024 NEP national poll.

[MinorityRepublican]

I do know the Hispanic vote in California, New Mexico, and metro New York City is heavily Democrat, which is obvious from the 2024 NEP national poll.

Oregon is roughly 71% White, while Massachusetts is about 68%. Vermont and Maine are the whitest states in the country, at about 90% each. Washington State is around 65% White, and Minnesota stands out in the Upper Midwest at about 82%. These figures reflect the broad demographic patterns across the northern U.S., with New England and parts of the Midwest remaining the most heavily White by percentage.

According to the argument that you're making, they should be reliable Republican states. Yet they all voted for Harris in 2024.