Democrats Party Like It’s 1911
I & I Editorial Board
June 23, 2026
By the end of this year, there could be 10 socialist mayors in the U.S. That’s the most since the 1910s, when socialism was the shiny new object embraced by educated elites.
But what excuse do Democrats have today – after 100 years of socialism’s miserable, murderous failures – for embracing this toxic ideology?
Back in 1911, according to one historical count, members of the Socialist Party of America won office in 74 towns and cities, and another 32 in 1913.
Fast forward to today. As NBC News put it, “Democratic socialists are on the rise in Trump-era mayoral races … fueled by a backlash to Trump policies, economic strain and fatigue with the Democratic establishment.”
Right now, there are eight socialist mayors – the most since the 1920s – and primary voters in one-party District of Columbia virtually guaranteed a ninth when they nominated a socialist to run that misbegotten city. In Los Angeles, meanwhile, socialist Democrat Nithya Raman will face off against the Fidel Castro-loving incumbent Karen Bass. Then there’s Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who is a socialist in all but name.
That’s the most socialist mayors in office at a given time since the 1910s.
Ashik Siddique, a national co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America, told NBC that “people are really hungry for an alternative to the status quo” and that their candidates “are running on credible platforms of expanding public services to be universal and high-quality for everybody and taxing the rich to do it, that message really resonates.”
Our latest I&I TIPP Poll finds that almost half of Democrats now have a “favorable” view of socialism. Even among Republicans, a shockingly high 26% do.
more
https://issuesinsights.com/2026/06/23/democrats-party-like-its-1910/
