A new Fox News national poll indicates that 32% of voters hold a favorable view of socialism, a rating that matches an all-time high for the question, which the network has tracked since 2019. This level of support stands in contrast to 64% of voters who view the ideology unfavorably. The findings arrive as the topic of socialism features prominently in coverage of the current midterm election cycle, following high-profile victories in Democratic primaries by candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Those wins have fueled a debate over the ideological future of the Democratic Party.
To gauge public understanding of these concepts, Fox News Digital interviewed residents in Portland, Maine, a city often described as a progressive bastion. The responses revealed sharply different interpretations of what socialism entails. Lewis, a retired Navy veteran, described socialism as a positive force because it "looks out for people's needs" and distinguished it from communism. While both ideologies emphasize collective ownership of the means of production, such as factories and major industries, socialism encompasses a range of approaches that can include private enterprise. Communism, by contrast, traditionally envisions the abolition of private ownership and a classless society.
When asked if he would personally surrender private property to government or collective control, Lewis expressed hesitation. He stated that he had not previously considered socialism in those terms and emphasized his preference for addressing needs through measures like national health care rather than government seizure of assets. "I don't like government taking things away from you," he said.
Nolan, who recently moved to Portland, framed his support for socialism around economic inequality. He argued that the current wealth imbalance in America could benefit from a "leveling system" to help those not benefiting from society. However, Nolan maintained that business owners should retain their autonomy and that individuals deserve to earn their own money. He suggested that excessive wealth at the top, particularly among large corporations, could be redistributed to assist disadvantaged individuals who lack housing.
Nola, another resident encountered at Monument Square in Portland, defined socialism as meaning equity. Despite acknowledging that socialism involves the takeover of businesses and means of production, she stated she supported it "100%." As the daughter of a small business owner, Nola cited the difficulty of running a small enterprise compared to the power of large corporations. She believed that making more of the privatized market public would be beneficial given the size of the United States.
Ted offered a contrasting perspective, describing socialism as a "horrible idea" that grants too much power to government institutions. He compared the outcome to dictatorship and argued that socialism impoverishes people, whereas capitalism creates wealth. Although he acknowledged that some wealthy individuals are greedy, Ted maintained that the free-market economy is ultimately beneficial for everyone.
The Fox News poll also measured views on capitalism, finding that 51% of voters had a favorable view of it, compared to 46% who held an unfavorable view. A separate September Gallup poll found that 43% of Americans had a positive image of socialism, the highest level since Gallup began tracking the question in 2010.