Out of 51 candidates across 22 states and the District of Columbia, 94% won in November
Number of candidates endorsed by socialist organizations on the decline since 2020 peak
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL (December 2, 2024) – A new report by The Heartland Institute, a national free-market think tank, reveals that nearly every candidate endorsed by prominent socialist organizations in the United States emerged victorious during the 2024 election.
This Heartland Policy Brief – Socialist Watch 2024: An Analysis of Socialist Candidates in the 2024 General Election – analyzes the 2024 election results for candidates who were formally endorsed at the national level by at least one of the three most prominent socialist organizations in the United States: Our Revolution, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), and the Progressive Democrats of America (PDA). These organizations explicitly support socialist ideology and inherently socialist policies such as the Green New Deal, Medicare for All, free college tuition, and wealth taxes, as well as the general expansion of the welfare state, total governmental control over the economy, and the eradication of free-market capitalism.
Overall, these organizations endorsed a total of 51 socialist candidates, of which 48 (94 percent) won their races for federal, statewide, or local office with an average margin of victory of approximately 49 percent. Nine of these candidates ran in uncontested races. Taking out those nine candidates, the 39 remaining socialist candidates won their races by an average margin of approximately 37 percent. Only three socialist candidates lost their races, with a 13 percent average margin of defeat.
Among the candidates endorsed by these three socialist groups, 27 ran for the U.S. House of Representatives, two ran for U.S. Senate, 12 ran for statewide offices, and 10 ran for local offices. These races occurred in 22 states and the District of Columbia. California was the leading state for socialist candidates in the 2024 election, with 10 in total.
This is the fourth edition of The Heartland Institute’s post-election Socialist Watch series. Previous reports were produced in 2018, 2020, and 2022. The 2024 election results were particularly noteworthy, as the total number of socialist candidates endorsed by Our Revolution, the DSA, and/or the PDA dropped precipitously compared to previous years. For context, 86 candidates were endorsed by at least one of these three groups in 2018, 266 candidates were endorsed in 2020, and 132 candidates were endorsed in 2022.
While some may interpret the lower total number of endorsements in 2024 as a sign that the socialist movement in the United States is waning, that may not be the case, as referenced in this report’s conclusion. The Democratic Party’s loss of control over the White House and the Senate has already galvanized furious intraparty debate. The brewing civil war amongst Democrats will either result in a doubling down of centrist establishmentarianism or the formal adoption of a left-wing, populist platform that embraces the core pillars of socialism.
The following statements from socialism experts at The Heartland Institute – a free-market think tank – may be used for attribution. For more comments, refer to the contact information below. To book a Heartland guest on your program, please contact Director of Communications Jim Lakely at [email protected] and (cell) 312/731-9364.
“For the past three election cycles, The Heartland Institute has produced a Socialist Watch report documenting the number of socialist candidates endorsed by three of the country’s most influential socialist political organizations. This year, Our Revolution, the Democratic Socialists of America, and the Progressive Democrats of America endorsed 51 socialist candidates, of which 48 were victorious.
“Although these three groups endorsed fewer socialist candidates compared to the three prior elections, the average margin of victory and overall winning percentage remains in line with 2020 and 2022. Since Sen. Bernie Sanders ran for president in 2016, socialism has spread like wildfire throughout the United States, especially among young Americans. Now that the Democrats have been ousted from the White House and they no longer control the U.S. Senate, it will be interesting to watch whether the left continues to move in a more socialist direction or pivots back towards the center.”
Chris Talgo
Editorial Director
The Heartland Institute
[email protected]
“The findings of this report suggest that socialism’s influence on modern politics has reached a low point, reflecting a broader shift in ideological momentum. This decline may indicate a waning resonance of socialist ideals with the broader electorate. However, in the wake of the 2024 election results, it is plausible that Democrats may pivot toward a more populist and socialist-leaning approach as they recalibrate their strategy for future electoral success. We are already seeing examples of progressive voices on the left advocating for Democrats to embrace the issues that once fueled the popularity of figures like Bernie Sanders. We will need to remain vigilant against this potential socialist resurgence to ensure that our country does not fall prey to the dangers of this pernicious political ideology.”
Donald Kendal
Director, Emerging Issues Center
The Heartland Institute
[email protected]
“The results of this report—particularly the significant decline in the number of candidates endorsed by socialist organizations—may lead some to believe that socialism is on the decline in the United States. However, the reality of the situation is that socialism is on the precipice of becoming the formal ideology of a mainstream party for the first time in United States history.
“The only way for Democrats to effectively counter right-wing populism is to embrace left-wing populism, otherwise known as socialism. Wide swathes of typically Democratic voters cast ballots for Donald Trump in 2024 because of anti-establishment sentiment, not because they truly believe in conservative principles. Smart Democratic political strategists understand that to get those voters back and have a chance at future electoral success, the Democratic Party must reinvent itself as a ‘party of the people.’ Socialism is by no means on the wane.”
Jack McPherrin
Research Fellow & Research Editor
The Heartland Institute
[email protected]
The Heartland Institute is a national nonprofit organization founded in 1984 and headquartered in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Its mission is to discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems. For more information, visit our website or call 312/377-4000.
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