Longtime “Independent” Senator Bernie Sanders has made his political chops degrading millionaires, billionaires, and corporate America.
So much so many have labeled Sanders a “socialist.”
Now for Sanders, who has been vocal about challenging the Democratic Party’s establishment, he appears to now be willing to cross into lines of endorsing socialist candidates.
Last week, Sanders spent time campaigning with New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, who is running for mayor of New York City, and is widely known as a socialist candidate.
Take a look —
Great event at Brooklyn College with @ZohranKMamdani.
The NYC mayor's race is not just about who wins. It's about whether ordinary citizens have ANY power in our democracy, or whether billionaires control it all. We can't let them win. pic.twitter.com/7Ran09BSCm
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) September 7, 2025
On the surface, this may come across as a little anti-Democratic establishment, but Sanders’ crossover might be part of a larger, disturbing trend amongst American voters — including the next generation of voters.
According to new Gallup poll released last week, Americans’ approval of capitalism has sunk to a record low, while support for socialism has slowly ticked up slightly in recent years.
Here are highlights from the poll:
- 54% of US adults surveyed said they have a positive image of capitalism, the lowest level Gallup has recorded since it began asking the question 15 years ago.
- That’s down sharply from 60% support in 2021.
- Support of socialism has meanwhile grown from 38% in 2021 to 39% in 2025.
- A majority of Americans still view socialism negatively, at 57%.
Much of the erosion of Americans’ positive image of capitalism comes from a decline among independent and Democratic voters, with Republican support largely remaining steady.
The poll noted that Democrats’ view of capitalism dropped from 50% positive in 2021 to 42% — the first time the group’s approval amount dipped below 50%.
Independents’ perspective on capitalism also went from 59% positive in 2021 to 51% in 2025.
On the flip side, Republicans’ love of capitalism increased from 72% in 2021 to 74% — though still below the record high of 78% Gallup recorded in 2019.
Over the years, Americans’ perspective on capitalism has been largely stable.
When Gallup first posed the question in 2010, 61% said they had a positive view. Nearly a decade later, when Gallup asked the question, 60% had a favorable perspective.
As for socialism, US adults’ perspective rose from 36% positive in 2010 to 39% in 2025 and has hovered in that range during the 15 years since Gallup posed the question.
The boost for socialism comes amid the rise of lefty Democratic socialists, including the aforementioned Sanders and Mamdani, along with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).
All far-left liberal figures have cultivated a loyal base of support by railing against “oligarchs” and driving home a message to voters about the economy being rigged against them.