Thus far, the post-midterm analysis has focused heavily on the blue wave narrative and the political consequences that a Democratic-controlled Congress will have upon the remaining two years of President Trump’s term.
While that story deserves attention because of its national implications, there has been far less consideration paid to the real headline of the 2026 midterm elections: socialists dominated at all levels, and democratic socialism may be on the cusp of overtaking the Democratic Party.
Since 2018, The Heartland Institute has tracked the success of socialist candidates in local, state, and federal elections under the definition of having “been endorsed by at least one of three organizations: Our Revolution, the Democratic Socialists of America, and/or the Progressive Democrats of America.”
On November 3, approximately 280 socialists ran for various political offices in towns, cities, and states throughout the nation, an all-time high according to our count.
To date, with many races still up in the air, socialists have garnered more than 200 wins against approximately 45 losses.
For context, those three organizations endorsed 51 candidates in the 2024 general election, who had a 90 percent win rate.
It must be emphasized that the Big Three are openly hostile to the Democratic Party. They do not seek to reform it; rather, their goal is to overthrow it and eliminate the moderate left.
The Progressive Democrats of America “was founded in 2004 to transform the Democratic Party and our country” via what it calls an “inside/outside strategy.”
Our Revolution “was founded by Bernie Sanders” to “elect progressives.”
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) trains its “chapters to effectively support democratic socialist candidates running for local and state office while lifting up our key issues.”
The key issues are socialist policies such as single-payer healthcare, wealth taxes, massive income redistribution programs, and “free” stuff.
“You have no debt. You don’t need health insurance. You don’t pay a mortgage or have a landlord, because comfortable housing is a human right. Your retirement is publicly funded. Food, education, energy, medicine, and transportation aren’t for-profit businesses; they are common goods and utilities,” says the DSA, if its Workers Deserve More Program is passed.
Unfortunately, as the election results show, countless Americans voted for democratic socialists last Tuesday. But what is more shocking is that democratic socialists won all over the map, even in areas thought to be invincible to socialism.
Socialists prevailed in places like Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin. In some of these states, a few won federal races and will serve in the U.S. Congress.
The vast majority, however, won at the state and local level.
The DSA’s strategy of “running for local and state office” has borne much fruit, and not just in places like the Big Apple.
Now, socialists are openly running and winning in the heartland.
Come 2027, more than 200 socialists will take the oath of office and officially hold power.
Read the rest at Townhall.
Chris Talgo is the Editorial Director for The Heartland Institute and a fellow for Heartland’s Glenn C. Haskins Emerging Issues Center.
