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Democratic Socialism is infiltrating the Heartland
American Thinker ^ | 4 Jun, 2026 | Chris Talgo

Posted on 06/04/2026 6:47:21 AM PDT by MtnClimber

Democratic socialists are not just campaigning in so-called flyover states; they are winning.

Over the past decade, the rise of democratic socialism in America has been most acute in coastal states like California, New York, and Washington.

Generally, America’s heartland has refrained from embracing the democratic socialist grievance agenda. However, as the 2026 primary season heats up, we are seeing several democratic socialist candidates running for office in places across the heartland.

Democratic socialists are not just campaigning in so-called flyover states; they are winning.

In Pennsylvania, democratic socialist Chris Raab cruised to victory late last month in the state’s primary for the 3rd U.S. House District. He is virtually assured a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives next year, given that the GOP did not run a candidate in the primary.

In the Bluegrass State, democratic socialist Robert LeVertis Bell, who trounced his moderate opponent in the primary for the state’s House District 43, “is poised to make Kentucky political history” when he likely becomes “the first socialist elected to the Capitol in 148 years.”

In upcoming contests, democratic socialists are leading in primary races for the U.S. Senate in Michigan and Maine as well as the U.S. House of Representatives in Colorado. At the gubernatorial level, they are also making inroads in places like Wisconsin, where democratic socialist Francesca Hong is the frontrunner for the Democratic Party’s nomination.

Suffice to say, democratic socialism could be a political force for years to come in the American heartland.

If you are curious as to why democratic socialism is gaining popularity in the United States, there is plenty of blame to be assigned to institutions like public schools, Hollywood, and academia. Social media and the mainstream media have also aided and abetted the rise of democratic socialism.

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: education; leftism
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1 posted on 06/04/2026 6:47:21 AM PDT by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

I think the education system has been totally corrupted by the marxist left.


2 posted on 06/04/2026 6:47:31 AM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

Um, when you push all your industries overseas and then let tens of millions of foreigners flood in to take the few jobs left, and THEN you don’t let Don Trump tariff the competition out of the game, well....that will get people going on the idea that maybe the Socialists have a point.

Make America Great Again and socialism will seem rather unnecessary.


3 posted on 06/04/2026 6:52:48 AM PDT by Regulator (It's fraud, Jim)
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To: MtnClimber

Some people act surprised as if Socialism and Communism came out of nowhere to take over America. But its been building for decades. What do you think the Welfare State is? What do you think transfer payments are? Welfare. Food Stamps. Subsidized Housing. Obamaphones. Medicaid. Even subsidized Medicare. And the Democrats have created middle class subsidies so they aren’t just for the poor. The new American Dream is “gimme gimme gimme and make the ‘rich’ pay for it.” Get money from the government paid for by someone else. So of course Socialism and Communism gain traction. The ideal that you have to be self-sufficient went out the window a long time ago.


4 posted on 06/04/2026 6:52:58 AM PDT by Opinionated Blowhard (When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.)
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To: MtnClimber

Rush ‘s question: Leftists complain that we have to divide the pie more equitably (give them your your money).

Your answer?


5 posted on 06/04/2026 6:55:02 AM PDT by nagant
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To: Opinionated Blowhard
Get money from the government paid for by someone else. So of course Socialism and Communism gain traction. The ideal that you have to be self-sufficient went out the window a long time ago.

America is a wealthy country. The Dems take an extra 5% from the middle class and it provides billions to buy favor with new Dem voters thru welfare payments. It's our fault, we should demand tax cuts and a government that balances the budget.

6 posted on 06/04/2026 6:55:24 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: MtnClimber

The democratic Party is our “National Socialist” Party. You can easily figure out where that term came from.


7 posted on 06/04/2026 7:03:36 AM PDT by volare737 ( Diversity is something to be overcome, not celebrated”.)
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To: volare737

….or where it has been used in the past.


8 posted on 06/04/2026 7:04:44 AM PDT by volare737 ( Diversity is something to be overcome, not celebrated”.)
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To: MtnClimber

Socialism/communism will always be popular among those who think they can get something for nothing.


9 posted on 06/04/2026 7:12:16 AM PDT by libertylover (The HBM (Has Been Media) is almost all AGENDA-DRIVEN and HATE-DRIVEN, not-truth driven)
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To: MtnClimber

Since the 1880s and the industrialization of America “socialism” has had a significant following throughout the heartland. However prosperity, the World Wars and the leftward evolution of the Democratic Party mitigated its expression. What is different today is that the common values that that resulted in a reasonable social consensus among Americans has eroded. Face it many Americans have embraced a neo pagan, epicurean, hedonistic life style. Drug use is rampant. Even native Americans are ignorant of their heritage, poorly educated and dependent. The numerous diverse migrants and foreign born as a whole are worse. “Democratic socialism” attracts them. Expect more virulently anti American people such as AOC, Taub, Mamdani, Platner,Johnson etc to be elected to high office. Soon they will drop any pretense of patriotic devotion. Decent, hard working patriotic Americans will be challenged and hard pressed.


10 posted on 06/04/2026 7:15:14 AM PDT by allendale
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To: MtnClimber

“Democratic socialist”....a euphemism for a communist. Party goal is to destroy America from within.


11 posted on 06/04/2026 7:17:11 AM PDT by Bonemaker (invictus maneo )
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To: MtnClimber
I think the education system has been totally corrupted by the marxist left.

The flowering of the marxist Frankfurt school at Columbia...

12 posted on 06/04/2026 7:18:20 AM PDT by 17th Miss Regt (Fascist, deplorable, and proud of it!)
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To: Regulator

Central to MAGA is anti-elite populism.

As the positions of working class and middle-income Americans continue to deteriorate, socialism holds a desperate appeal, like it or not, the same populist appeal that swept America in the late 1800s.


13 posted on 06/04/2026 7:19:51 AM PDT by Miami Rebel (RE)
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To: MtnClimber

In 1912, socialist candidate Eugene V. Debs received 6% of the popular vote (901,551 votes). This is by far the most number of votes any avowed socialist presidential candidate has ever received.

It also happened because the Republican party was split between W.H. Taft and T. Roosevelt. What isn’t mentioned is that the Democrats had embraced “internationalist socialism” and the T. Roosevelt ‘Bull Moose’ faction of the Republicans had embraced “national socialism”, thought *both* the Democrats and the BM Republicans called their version “Progressivism”.

So, in effect, the 1912 election had three “socialist” candidates and one centrist.


14 posted on 06/04/2026 7:20:04 AM PDT by yefragetuwrabrumuy ("We come in peace. Don't look too carefully at our menus.")
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To: MtnClimber

Until the extreme bias of the MSM is ended, democratic socialism will prevail. WORD!!


15 posted on 06/04/2026 7:21:49 AM PDT by Racketeer
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To: Regulator

You make a good point.

TV’s Archie Bunker was a factory worker, and a strong anti-communist. That was a realistic portrayal (although the racism part was not).

The middle class has been hollowed out. The factories are gone. Both the D’s and the R’s are responsible. As you noted, Trump is trying to change that. And they’ve fought him every step of the way.


16 posted on 06/04/2026 7:29:43 AM PDT by Leaning Right
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To: MtnClimber

Not to mention the millions upon millions (Trump cites 20 million) of - “migrants” Biden let into the country who, as Pat Buchanan says “will vote themselves services every time.”

And yes they are voting.


17 posted on 06/04/2026 7:34:22 AM PDT by Bon of Babble (You Say You Want a Revolution?)
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To: MtnClimber

Suffice to say, democratic socialism could be a political force for years to come in the American heartland.
.....

We’ll see.

If Govt of the Swamp, by the Swamp, for the Swamp perishes from this earth, it would mean the democrat socialists we’ve had for decades in DC are nearly out of business.


18 posted on 06/04/2026 7:44:55 AM PDT by delchiante
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To: MtnClimber
I think the education system has been totally corrupted by the marxist left.

That was the progressive intent from its inception.

19 posted on 06/04/2026 7:45:27 AM PDT by Carry_Okie (The tree of liberty needs a rope.)
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To: Leaning Right

Bunker was just a Jewish leftist caricature of what a working class White guy was like. Outrageously overdone.

What shocked them is the fact that Carroll O’Connor played it so well that people liked him; even O’Connor didn’t see that coming.

Reiner’s kid managed to parody his own tribe - phony hipster college dropout loser - so well that Bunker’s sneering at him became almost understandable.

The Hard Hat riot of ‘69 was the predecessor for the show. Hollyweird couldn’t understand why working class Irish and Italians in NYC weren’t down with the NVA and the protests.


20 posted on 06/04/2026 8:06:19 AM PDT by Regulator (It's fraud, Jim)
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