Embrace Democratic Socialism — Young Voters Are Already There

The polling is in, and it's time to move left. A new CNBC/Generation Lab survey of 1,088 Americans aged 18 to 34 found that 46% hold a favorable view of Democratic Socialism. That's not a fringe position — that's nearly half of the next generation of voters telling you exactly where they stand. Ignore that at your peril. This isn't about Soviet-style ideology. Young people are looking at Nordic models that deliver housing stability, healthcare access, and economic security. The same poll found that 72% of respondents rate the national economy as "bad" or worse, 45% cite housing as their biggest financial pressure, and 28% have skipped healthcare because they can't afford it. These are solvable problems with bold policy — and voters know it. The midterms are 82 days away. Candidates like Francesca Hong built something real in Wisconsin even in a narrow loss, and democratic socialists are winning primaries across New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Washington, D.C. The energy is here. Meet it.