For generations, the American Dream has been built on the belief that hard work leads to opportunity and a better life. But as housing costs, student debt, and the cost of living continue to rise, many young Americans are beginning to question whether that promise still feels realistic. At the same time, support for democratic socialism is growing, particularly among younger voters. Is this growing movement a response to changing political beliefs, or to a generation questioning whether the current system can still deliver the future it promised?
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has become one of the most recognizable faces of the growing democratic socialist movement in the United States. Mamdani won the election in November of last year after campaigning on promises to fight for free childcare, expanded public transport, universal healthcare, affordable housing, and stronger labor rights.
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), of which Mamdani is a member, has experienced rapid growth in recent years. After remaining at around 5,000 members for decades, the organization grew to nearly 79,000 members in 2021, with 97% of its current members joining after 2016.
The 2025 election of Mamdani, reflects a wider movement toward more left-wing policies in the United States. In New York alone, three candidates endorsed by Mandami won their primaries, while DSA members across the U.S. are increasingly winning primaries, reflecting a broader trend of growing support for these ideas.
The question is therefore whether this growing support for socialist policies will change the political landscape in the U.S., or rather reflect a temporary shift.
Democratic socialists… who?
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) advocate for a larger role of government in areas such as healthcare, education, childcare, housing, and labor rights. The key issues for democratic socialists involve greater government involvement in public services, such as healthcare. They advocate replacing the current private insurance-based companies with a government-funded universal healthcare system, financed through higher taxes, especially on wealthier Americans.
Democratic socialists also value more accessible education and childcare. Mamdani, for example, invested in free childcare programs for 2,000 2-year-olds while expanding New York City’s existing 3-K program.
The American Dream is dying
The democratic socialists often gain support from younger voters located in larger cities. A new Pew Research study has found that younger adults are more likely than older generations to view socialism positively, while younger Democrats are also more open to leaders who identify as democratic socialists.
Many young people, particularly those living in large cities, face a future shaped by significant student loan debt, an increasingly unaffordable housing market, and having children might become more of a financial burden than an exciting dream. Money means working — a lot. As a result, young Americans are left with the feeling that their future will be defined by constant work and economic pressure, especially if they hope to remain in bigger cities.
Currently, nearly 43 million individuals have federal student loan debt, and the federal student loan portfolio now exceeds $1.6 trillion. Meanwhile, according to Pew Research, 89% of Americans under 40 say it is harder for young adults today to buy a home than it was for their parents’ generation.
Perhaps the biggest challenge is not rising costs themselves, but what they represent. For young Americans, the question is whether hard work still leads to the opportunities that have long defined the American Dream. Liam Scully, from Wesleyan University told Wall Street Journal:
“many young people sense that “socialism” acts as a label for enhanced social safety nets, nationalized healthcare, and subsidized education.”
This helps explain why the DSA’s message resonates with some younger voters. Understanding why they appeal, and to whom, may explain why the movement has gained so much attention.
DSA: The future or naive idealists?
Free education and healthcare sound ideal, but is this system actually achievable in the U.S. today? Critics say no.
These ideas are far from the current American system. Implementing them would require higher taxes on individuals and corporations, which opponents argue could limit personal freedom, one of the core pillars of American society, while potentially slowing economic growth.
Trump has also criticized democratic socialism, accusing its supporters of being communists. Speaking at the Faith & Freedom Coalition’s policy conference in June, he argued that promises of a system where “everything is free” would eventually leave the country in crisis, stating,
“The problem is, after two or three years, the country is a disaster.”
However, criticism of DSA does not only come from Republicans. Also within the democratic party, some members argue that democratic socialism represents a major shift away from the party’s traditional approach, with concerns that government expansion, higher taxation, and structural change could distance Democrats from moderate voters. Bill Clinton’s former adviser, James Carville, described this divide as a potential “schism” within the party, arguing that some DSA-aligned candidates “have no place in the Democratic Party.”
But, if merely looking at the American society, systems, and its people are these ideals simply naive, or actually implementable?
The Scandinavian Dream
Democratic socialists argue that a fulfilling life requires more than just economic opportunity; it also requires security, stability, and trust.
While Scandinavian countries are not democratic socialist states, they are often referenced because they follow the Nordic model, which combines capitalist market economies with extensive welfare systems funded by relatively high taxes, including free education and universal healthcare. Examining this model can help understand how social democratic values and welfare policies are implemented in practice.
Denmark, a small Scandinavian country with around 6 million inhabitants, has an income tax rate currently ranging between 37- 53%, with higher earners paying additional top-bracket taxes. In comparison, the Tax Foundation estimates the average American income tax rate to be around 14.5%.
For many young Americans, moving from paying 14% to 40% of their income may seem like a major sacrifice. Why would someone want a larger share of their salary going to the state rather than directly into their own bank account?
This is where the Nordic model comes into the picture. In Denmark, all education, including universities, is free, and students receive government financial support while studying rather than relying on loans. Healthcare is also provided free of charge to all citizens.
Denmark illustrates that some of these policies already exist elsewhere, although in a very different political and economic context. The welfare model is built on a shared system where citizens contribute through taxes. Despite high taxes, Denmark remains one of the wealthiest countries in the world, with low inequality rankings.
However, the comparison has its limits. Denmark’s population of around 6 million is a fraction of the United States’ more than 340 million people, making large-scale welfare reforms far more complex to implement. The countries also differ politically. While Denmark generally accepts higher taxes in exchange for universal services, the United States places a stronger emphasis on individual responsibility, personal freedom, and small government. Additionally, the Nordic model depends on high levels of public trust in government and taxation, which might be something that has become increasingly difficult in a polarised American political landscape.
Therefore, the debate is not only whether democratic socialist policies can work. The larger question is whether Americans are willing to redefine the relationship between the individual, the market, and the state.
From movement to reality
The growing support for democratic socialism in the United States is clear. The recent primaries, where several candidates have already won their races, show that this movement is becoming more than just one politician or one election.
Whether one agrees with democratic socialism or not, the most important thing to understand is what lies beneath its growing support. For many young Americans, this movement reflects a fear of a future shaped by rising housing costs, student debt, healthcare expenses, climate change, and economic uncertainty. It represents a demand for answers to problems that many feel the current system has failed to address.
Whether this movement is a lasting political change or a temporary shift remains uncertain. However, one thing is clear: parts of a new generation are demanding solutions, and understanding why may be more important than agreeing or disagreeing with the answers.
