Socialist mayors now lead four of the nation's 20 most populous cities following recent elections in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. These four cities are home to approximately 14 million residents, with their metro areas encompassing roughly 44 million people, potentially affected by the policies enacted by these mayors.
Los Angeles Councilwoman Nithya Raman, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), defeated incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and is set to take office in December. Washington, D.C. elected DSA member Janeese Lewis George as its new mayor. They join Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as socialist leaders in major U.S. cities.
The trend extends beyond mayoral races. The recent elections also saw seven DSA-backed or affiliated candidates elected to the House of Representatives. Several other candidates with socialist affiliations were also elected or re-elected to Congress.
Recent polling indicates a shifting public perception of socialism in the U.S. A Fox News poll found that 32% of voters view socialism favorably, matching a high first recorded five years ago. A separate Gallup poll indicated that 43% of Americans had a positive image of socialism in September, the highest since 2010. In contrast, 51% of voters in the Fox News poll held a favorable view of capitalism, while 46% had an unfavorable view.