On July 4, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) boasted of record membership. Meanwhile, a strong majority of Democrat Americans said they have a favorable view of socialism and a plurality say it’s a better economic system than capitalism, results of a new survey of U.S. adult citizens reveal. In a social media post on Saturday, DSA announced that it has become the largest socialist organization in U.S. history: “On July 4, 2026, Democratic Socialists of America passed 120,000 members, making us the largest socialist organization in United States history and surpassing the Socialist Party of America under Eugene Debs, which reached its peak dues-paying membership in 1912.” In a national survey of U.S. adult citizens, conducted June 26-29, The Economist/YouGov polled Americans’ views of socialism and socialist agenda items, including the following question: “Which is the better economic system?” One in three (34%) Democrats said that socialism is the better economic system, more than the 22%, or about one in five, who said capitalism is better. Another 43% of Democrats weren’t sure which is the superior system. Among all American citizens, 44% preferred capitalism, while 19% voted for socialism. In another question, the survey asked: “Do you have a favorable or an unfavorable opinion of socialism?” Fully 58% of Democrats said they view socialism favorably – more than five times the 11% who said they have an unfavorable opinion of socialism. When all other U.S. citizens are factored in, 39% said they view it unfavorably, 32% said they have a favorable view and 29% weren’t sure what they thought. Likewise, 62% of Democrats said that they would vote for a candidate who identified as a “Democratic Socialist,” far more than the 24% of Independents, 3% of Republicans and 29% of all adult citizens who said they would be willing to do so. When it comes to health insurance, three-fourths (73%) of Democrats said they support the socialist goal of eliminating private enterprise and putting the federal government in complete control. Here, 73% of Democrats said they support a “national health plan in which all Americans get their health insurance from the federal government and private health insurance companies are eliminated,” while only 13% said they oppose a government takeover. In contrast, 54% of Republicans voiced opposition and 30% expressed support. Among self-described Socialists, 90% support eliminating private health insurance companies and replacing them with a federal monopoly of health insurance. Three-fourths (77%) of Democrats also favor taxpayer-funded college tuition for all students, while just 13% oppose having the government cover the cost of college tuition for everyone. Among Republicans, however, 54% oppose such a plan, while just 30% support it. Public housing is another socialist agenda item widely supported by Democrat adults, as 79% of those surveyed said “the government should build public housing.” Among Republicans, 35% said it should, while 47% said it shouldn’t. Despite their support for socialist ideals, just 15% of Democrats said they “think the Democratic Party is socialist.” Among all U.S. citizens, 31% defined the Democrat Party as socialist. Slightly more said they disagree (36%) or aren’t sure (33%). Nonetheless, Democratic Socialists’ influence in the Democratic Party is on the rise, thanks in part to the ascent of New York City’s DSA-member mayor, as The Washington Examiner explains: “[Mayor Zohran] Mamdani and a dozen other local candidates across the U.S. won in November 2025 with the DSA’s help in get-out-the-vote operations, outreach, and other campaign efforts. DSA candidates asserted more control over the Democratic Party in June with three primary wins in New York, prompting criticism from more centrist Democrats. …. “The group reported increasing membership after DSA member and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Democratic primary win in June 2025.”