Democratic socialist Francesca Hong lost the Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial primary Aug. 11 to establishment-backed Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, defying months of polling showing her comfortably ahead.

The loss complicates the narrative of an ascendant socialist faction in the Democratic Party. But Hong's loss obscures a larger shift: Socialism has gone mainstream among Democratic voters.

Gallup has tracked Democrats' views of socialism since 2010, when half saw it favorably. That number hit 57% by 2018, 65% by 2021 and sat at 66% in September. Capitalism's favorability among Democrats has trended in the opposite direction over the same stretch, falling from 51% to 42%. Since 2018, Democrats have rated socialism more positively than capitalism.

Other polls tell a similar story:

About 3 in 4 Democrats say they'd be open to a democratic socialist for president, per a Washington Post-Ipsos poll, even as 55% of all U.S. adults say they wouldn't.

A Fox News poll found that 52% of Democrats view socialism favorably.

The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) party itself also polls well inside the party. A Marquette Law School Poll found Democrats view the group favorably by 42%-17%.

Whatever happens........

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