Socialism

The Socialist Surge Revives Failed and Hateful Ideas

Socialism, totalitarianism, and bigotry find a receptive audience among the young and disillusioned.

J.D. Tuccille | 8.10.2026 7:00 AM

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Abdul El-Sayed's victory in the Michigan Democratic Senate primary battle is only the latest by candidates affiliated with or adjacent to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Unlike many of the openly socialist officeholders and political hopefuls gaining traction in the Democratic Party, El-Sayed claims to be a capitalist, but his positions are indistinguishable from those of the left-wing figures he campaigns with, such as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I–Vt.), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D–N.Y.), and podcaster Hasan Piker, who has aligned himself with both the Chinese government and Hamas.

As democratic socialists in general and the DSA in particular take over the Democratic Party, it's worth examining the positions they take, the enemies they pick, and who supports them to see what they have in store for us as they seek to remake the country.

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Young, Credentialed, and Unhappy Recruits

At a time when trust in higher education is sliding among Americans, the socialist surge is largely a project of young college graduates. El-Sayed "eked out his victory by winning young voters and highly educated voters," finds a Washington Post analysis. That squares with a June Pew Research report that "Democrats who are White, younger or college-educated are more likely to view democratic socialists positively." Credentialed but relatively low-income people make up the core of DSA recruitment.

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