A recent CBS News/YouGov poll has found that a majority of Democrats hold a more favorable view of socialism than of capitalism, underscoring a significant ideological divide within the party as debates over economic policy continue to simmer.
The poll, which surveyed 2,287 U.S. adults between August 12 and 14, found that 58 percent of Democrats view socialism positively, while only 32 percent said the same about capitalism. That marked a 26-point gap in favor of socialism among Democratic respondents.
Negative views among Democrats followed a similarly stark pattern: 50 percent said they view capitalism negatively, while just 18 percent expressed a negative view of socialism. Meanwhile, 24 percent of Democrats said they had no opinion on socialism, and 18 percent had no opinion on capitalism.
Among the broader electorate, however, capitalism still holds an edge. Overall, 46 percent of all respondents said they have a positive view of capitalism, compared with 35 percent who view socialism positively. Conversely, 42 percent of all respondents said they have a negative view of socialism, while 33 percent said the same about capitalism.
Perceptions of Democratic Socialism Widespread
The findings come alongside other polling that suggests a notable share of Americans associate Democrats with socialism. An Economist/YouGov poll conducted between August 7 and 10 found that 26 percent of respondents believe most Democrats are socialists, while 42 percent said they do not hold that view.
A separate Economist/YouGov survey from June, which included 1,606 respondents, found that 62 percent of Democrats said they would vote for a candidate who identifies as a “Democratic Socialist.” Only 11 percent said they would not support such a candidate.
The polling results arrive as progressive and moderate wings of the Democratic Party continue to wrestle over the party’s economic messaging and policy priorities, with socialism emerging as a recurring flashpoint in primary battles and general-election debates.
The CBS News/YouGov poll’s margin of error was not provided in the summary of results.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/08/16/poll-democrats-hold-positive-view-of-socialism-over-capitalism/