Most Americans still view socialism negatively, even as left-leaning candidates scored major wins on Election Day, according to the Fox News Voter Poll.
Among 100,000 registered voters surveyed, 54% said they viewed socialism unfavorably, while about a third had a favorable opinion. Views of capitalism ran almost the other way: 57% viewed it positively and 32% negatively.
At the same time, 69% said the economy favors wealthy people. The poll, conducted by SSRS from Oct. 19 to Nov. 3, 2026, suggests many voters see the economic system as unfair even if they reject the socialist label.
That tension may help explain the success of candidates such as Abdul El-Sayed, who defeated Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s Senate race. During the campaign, El-Sayed described himself as a capitalist but argued that capitalism needs regulation.
“I believe in capitalism. I just believe that capitalism has to be regulated,” El-Sayed said in a July interview. He argued that monopolies and oligopolies have too much influence over politicians.
He also frequently criticized billionaires and pledged to pursue tax policies that would make them “pay their fair share.” Although El-Sayed supported Medicare for All and campaigned with Sen. Bernie Sanders, he rejected the Democratic socialist label.
Texas Democrat James Talarico also won decisively, pairing his support for capitalism with criticism of wealth and income inequality. At an October town hall, he argued that monopolies and corporate consolidation undermine capitalism, and said economic gains were flowing disproportionately to the wealthiest Americans.
The results suggest some voters who favor capitalism and oppose socialism were nonetheless willing to back candidates like El-Sayed and Talarico. Both ran to the left of a typical Democratic nominee, while making a case for regulated capitalism rather than socialism.
Republicans repeatedly called the two candidates socialists or Democratic socialists. Both pushed back by defending their preferred version of capitalism. That sets them apart from allies such as Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who have embraced the Democratic socialist label while representing strongly Democratic constituencies in Vermont and New York City.
