For the second time this month, Americans have elected an openly socialist candidate to public office. After a tight battle in Washington state, Democrat Katie Wilson overtook incumbent Bruce Harrell in Seattle’s 2025 mayoral race, winning by roughly 2,000 votes.

Harrell conceded Nov. 13, clearing the way for Wilson—co-founder and executive director of the Transit Riders Union—to take office next year. The member-run organization advocates for low-income fares and improved transit. 

“As a progressive and as a socialist, I believe in good governance,” Wilson said in a speech Nov. 13. “Our government is how we act collectively, how we accomplish the things that can only be done together.”

The funny thing about socialism though is that its champions often believe they will be the exception to its inevitable consequences. 

I remember learning about socialism in high school. I was told it was a political system in which everyone benefits equally—the rich and the poor. A brief look at history, however, reveals a different story.

Take Venezuela. With massive oil reserves and prime geography, it should be one of the richest countries in the world. And for a time, it was. That changed when socialist leader Hugo Chávez came to power in 1999. During Chávez’s term as president—a role he held until his death in 2013—he administered a series of efforts, in the name of progress, that promised beneficial social programs and free public health clinics. 

It was only a matter of time, however, until Chávez’s grand promises came face-to-face with reality. Alas, this world is no utopia: Resources are scarce. As former prime minister of the United Kingdom Margaret Thatcher said, “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.”

Not only did Chávez run out of money to implement his policies, but his methods proved unstable—leading to hyperinflation, unemployment, poverty, and food shortages. Thousands of Venezuelans flee to the U.S. every year to escape the socialistic policies that stole their livelihoods.

Venezuela is just one example of a country that adopted socialism. From Cuba to Eastern Europe, the story of socialism is both simple and fast-lived. It starts with big promises and ends in colossal regret. There is not one country that has been able to use socialism to improve its people’s lives. But this year two Americans think they can.

Earlier this month, New York City elected Democrat Socialist Zohran Mamdani to be its next mayor. Both Mamdani and Wilson shared almost identical political platforms, advocating for increased affordability, aggressive intervention in housing, “Trump-proofing” their cities, and even government-run grocery stores.

So why are so many Americans embracing socialist candidates at the ballot box?

A September poll conducted by the Heartland Institute and Rasmussen Reports showed that younger Americans are all the more eager to support socialism. Fifty-three percent of likely voters aged 18-39 said they would “like to see a democratic socialist candidate win the 2028 presidential election.”

When asked whether “major Industries like health care, energy, and big tech should be nationalized to give more control and equity to the people,” 76% said they “somewhat” or “strongly” agreed.

“I think it’s really damaging when people lose faith in the ability of their government to successfully tackle big challenges, when they lose faith in their government’s ability to deliver services for the people,” Wilson told CNN host Erin Burnett Nov. 13 in her first national interview after winning the election. “And so, I am really excited to get to work to make sure that the city of Seattle is delivering for people, and that we are responsive and communicative and doing the things that people want their government to do for them.” 

It’s not hard to see what draws people to socialism. Who wouldn’t want free community health care, low-income housing for the poor, and subsidized food? But it is important to remember that wherever governments have concentrated enough power to fulfill those promises, the results have been economic collapse, extreme poverty, and widespread corruption. 

And so perhaps the best antidote to socialism is simply this: Letting socialism speak for itself.

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