Takoma Park festival attendees offer varied definitions of socialism as poll shows record support
Fox News Digital reporters interviewed residents at Takoma Park’s annual street festival on Oct. 10, 2026 to ask them what socialism means to them.
The range of answers illustrates a growing public curiosity about the ideology, a trend mirrored in a recent Gallup poll that showed 43 % of Americans now have a positive view of socialism, the highest level recorded since the poll began in 2010. The shift comes as candidates who identify with socialist‑leaning platforms prepare for the upcoming midterm elections.
"The fact is that there's no…one answer," said documentary filmmaker Nina Gilden Seavey, who described socialism as the idea of paying for programs and then giving them to the people.
Jaw Blake echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that public services such as libraries, police, fire departments and utilities should be available to everyone, not reserved for a special group.
"Public libraries, the police department, the fire department, all our public services, utilities, are all part of what makes up socialism," said Jenny Sniderman, adding that while she would not willingly give up her private property, she might consider it if fairly reimbursed.
Other interviewees expressed uncertainty about relinquishing personal assets. "Do I want to give up my private property? Of course I don’t want to," Sniderman said, noting that compensation would be a key factor. Blake added, "I don’t know that I would necessarily love it, but if it was beneficial I’d at least consider it."
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), the nation’s largest socialist organization, advocates for wealth redistribution and public stakes in major corporations, differentiating democratic socialism from traditional state‑owned models. DSA co‑chair statements highlighted the need for a massive redistribution of wealth, while also emphasizing that the United States has not yet implemented such a system.
Historical context shows that only 17 % of Americans in a 2018 survey defined socialism as government ownership of businesses, while 23 % linked it to equality and 10 % to social benefits. Younger voters and liberal constituencies have shown the strongest support, with 66 % of very liberal voters and Democrats under 45 favoring a move toward socialism.
As the conversation in Takoma Park demonstrates, Americans continue to grapple with what socialism could look like in practice, a debate that will shape political discourse as socialist‑aligned candidates seek office in the coming elections.
