The socialist takeover of the Democratic Party

OPINION:

Socialist Zohran Mamdani’s win in New York City’s democratic mayoral primary shouldn’t come as a surprise. The Democratic Party has officially been co-opted by its liberal wing and is trending more radical.

Democratic socialist Brandon Johnson won Chicago’s mayoral race in 2023, and liberal Michelle Wu was victorious in Boston in 2021. In terms of turning out crowds and revving up the Democratic base, Sen. Bernard Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s “Fighting Oligarchy” tour this spring was a smashing success.

Generational change is leading this charge.

In 2019, a YouGov/Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation survey found that 70% of millennials, born between 1981 and 1996, said they were somewhat or extremely likely to vote for a socialist. Of Gen Z, those born after 1997, 64% said they were somewhat or extremely likely to vote for a socialist.

According to the survey, 19% of millennials and 12% of Gen Z said they thought the Communist Manifesto “better guarantees freedom and equality for all” than the Declaration of Independence. That’s compared with just 2% of baby boomers and 5% of Gen X.

Pew Research found that only 40% of those ages 18-29 view capitalism positively, the lowest among all age groups. Millennials and Gen Z are better educated than earlier generations when it comes to college and postgraduate degrees.

So why are our youths turning against America?

Educational indoctrination certainly plays a part. Our institutions of higher learning and K-12 public schools have become havens for anti-American and illiberal ideology.

Just 12% of college professors identify as conservative, according to a survey conducted by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education, down from 27% in 1969. Overall, the ratio of liberal to conservative professors has increased by about 350% since 1984, the Higher Education Research Institute found.

With the “1619 Project,” chants of “From the river to the sea,” boycotts of conservative guest speakers and segregated graduation ceremonies, college campuses have become hotbeds of liberal activism centered around the idea that America and its institutions are the oppressors (villains) and minorities are the oppressed (heroes).

A YouGov survey found that 87% of high school students failed a five-question basic knowledge test about American history, the worst of any group. High school students were also the least likely to know who is on Mount Rushmore. Only 11% could name the rights outlined in the First Amendment. Not surprisingly, the same survey found that more than a quarter of millennials and one-fifth of Gen Z say they are not proud to be American. Among boomers, only 8% or less say they are not proud.

Although public education contributes to their socialist leanings, what millennials and Gen Z identify as a broken generational compact also plays a role. The younger generation has been clobbered by student loans, a Social Security system that will be bankrupt by the time they are old enough to collect, an unaffordable housing market and job insecurity.

Without a stake in the capitalist system — homeownership, a stable job and a secure family structure — the younger generations are finding it harder to accumulate wealth and are turning against the free enterprise system they think is “rigged” against them.

Therefore, promises of free health care and transportation, rent control, student loan forgiveness, a $30 hourly minimum wage and city-run grocery stores sound appealing. Taxing the top 1%, the millionaires and billionaires who do “not pay their fair share,” is equitable.

Last, millennials and Gen Z are heavily impacted by social media. Gen Z is considered the first generation of true digital natives, growing up online. A Harris poll found that 60% of Gen Z spend four hours daily on social media, and 23% spend seven or more hours online.

Chinese Communist Party-owned TikTok is their app of choice. About 60% of TikTok’s 170 million users are estimated to be Gen Z. It also has a substantial following among millennials. The two generations combined make up the largest demographic on the platform.

“The TikTok algorithm in America is actively stifling family formation, promoting unhealthy relationships and interactions, and stoking ideological division, even as the Chinese version of the app carefully moderates such content,” said American Principles Project Policy Director Jon Schweppe.

Two years ago, TikTok boosted videos praising Osama bin Laden’s anti-American, antisemitic manifesto, and younger users expressed sympathy toward the notorious terrorist who masterminded the 9/11 attacks.

Mr. Mamdani crafted his campaign around social media, curating videos, vlog-style clips and memes meant to go viral. The New York Times dubbed him a “TikTok savant,” tapping into a pool of young voters in Brooklyn and Queens, immigrants from South Asia and Muslims, the coalition that would lead him to victory and had traditionally been overlooked.

The New York City Democratic Socialists of America endorsed Mr. Mamdani and increased its membership by more than 1,500. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party establishment sat on the sidelines.

Now, Democrats are embracing Mr. Mamdani’s socialist, antisemitic, anti-American takeover.

“I have known [Mr. Mamdani] since we worked together to provide debt relief for thousands of beleaguered taxi drivers & fought to stop a fracked gas plant in Astoria,” Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, who likes to refer to himself as the “shomer” (guardian) of Israel, posted on X. “He ran an impressive campaign that connected with New Yorkers about affordability, fairness, & opportunity.”

“Today, voters made their voices heard, demanding a more affordable, more livable New York City,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul posted on X. “I hear them loud and clear. @ZohranKMamdani built a formidable grassroots coalition and I look forward to speaking with him in the days ahead about his ideas on how to ensure a safe, affordable and livable New York City.”

Welcome to the new Democratic Party, fueled by radical socialists looking to undermine America’s core values and norms.

• Kelly Sadler is the commentary editor at The Washington Times.