<\/p>\n
President of Young Democratic Socialists of America at UCF, senior political science major,\u00a0Eli Lambert, speaks with a YDSA member\u00a0(right) on the growth of socialism and advocacy for Palestinian liberation on Nov. 20 at the Reflection Pond.<\/p>\n
Emmy Bailey<\/p>\n
On a campus of more than 69,000 students, conversations about socialism are no longer confined to political science classrooms.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This shift comes months after New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani\u2019s Nov. 4 election win<\/a>,\u00a0and just over a month after he was sworn into office.<\/p>\n Mamdani’s campaign, rooted in pillars of democratic socialism, including tenant protections, affordability and aggressive economic reform, was framed by supporters as a turning point for young voters disillusioned with the political and economic systems around them.<\/p>\n At UCF, student-led organizations promoting socialism have grown this academic year, hosting new educational events, organizing rallies and drawing more students into discussions about housing, affordability and economic power.<\/p>\n Dr. Aubrey Jewett, political science professor at UCF,\u00a0said the reaction to Mamdani\u2019s victory has often been framed as ideological, but the underlying motivations are more practical.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was talking about the bread-and-butter economic issues that people care about, and he had a way of connecting with voters,\u201d Jewett said. \u201cFor most voters, the ideology or the label is not quite as important as feeling like you have a personal connection with somebody who understands your problems.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the numbers show that there is a shift among younger voters in favor of socialism.<\/p>\n A\u00a0Cato Institute and YouGov<\/a> survey conducted in 2025 found that 62% of Americans under the age of 30 hold a \u201cfavorable view\u201d of socialism, and 34% said the same of communism. However, the poll did not define \u201csocialism.\u201d<\/p>\n Whether young Floridians lean left, right or somewhere in between, the rising engagement signals a generation actively questioning the systems around them.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re in an affordability crisis. People can\u2019t look forward to homeownership like they used to,\u201d Vanessa Christaldi, senior psychology major who serves as vice president of Students for a Democratic Society, said.\u00a0\u201cThey\u2019re struggling to pay rent, they\u2019re struggling to afford food. There\u2019s a real need for something that will address that.\u201d<\/p>\n According to the Heartland\u2013Rasmussen survey<\/a>, nearly a third of young adults who support democratic socialist policies cite housing costs as their top issue.\u00a0<\/p>\n At UCF, that urgency is visible everywhere, from rising rent in the surrounding neighborhoods to arguments over campus parking; a smaller fight symbolizing bigger feelings about affordability and fairness.<\/p>\n \u201cUCF could help with parking; there is simply not enough parking available for students. I hear so many stories of students having to miss classes because they can\u2019t find parking,\u201d Marcus Polzer, senior sociology major and representative of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cBut, also at the very minimum, what UCF can do is to lower the cost of parking for students. We have a lot of things at UCF that could be improved, while our president just got a bump in his salary, so he can clear almost $2 million a year from our school,” he added.<\/p>\n As interest in socialism grows, students say the definition itself has become a point of debate.<\/p>\n \u201cSocialism is when you have a government that is made up of and working for the working class and the masses of people instead of the rich,\u201d Polzer said.<\/p>\n The difference reflects how language changes across generations through media and cultural moments.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen young people talk about socialism, they\u2019re not thinking about the old Soviet Union,” Jewett said. “They\u2019re thinking about democratic socialism, the northern European model.”<\/p>\n Jewett said this \u201cnorthern European model” references democracies in countries like Denmark\u00a0and Finland, where governments fund universal healthcare, affordable education, and worker benefits through higher taxes, while maintaining a capitalist economy.<\/p>\n He also contrasted those systems with\u00a0authoritarian socialist systems, where the state controls most industries and political freedoms are restricted. Northern European democracies rely on elections, competitive markets, and social programs aimed at reducing inequality.<\/p>\n However, not everyone agrees with the rise of socialism on campus.<\/p>\n Jake Suggs, senior political science major and chair of Young Americans for Freedom, worries the shift in interest in socialism reflects a deeper cultural frustration rather than a workable policy direction.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI think it stems from the increased difficulty for young people to afford things,\u201d Suggs said. \u201cPeople on the left and right have this sort of bizarre victim mentality, believing it’s the billionaire corporations that are oppressing them or it’s some sort of deep state.\u201d<\/p>\n Suggs argues the economic evidence speaks for itself.<\/p>\n \u201cThe shortest way to lift people out of poverty, evidenced by all of human history, is capitalism,\u201d Suggs said. \u201cWhat conservatives propose is lower taxes, less government regulation and less government intervention in your pocketbook. I think that has been shown over and over again to be the best way for economic growth and prosperity.\u201d<\/p>\n Suggs agrees that housing is the biggest issue facing young people, but he chalks it up to supply and demand. While he acknowledges the struggles students face, he believes personal responsibility also plays a role.<\/p>\n \u201cI talk to students who say, \u2018I\u2019m working three jobs and still can\u2019t afford anything,\u2019 but they\u2019re dressed like a bum and don\u2019t present themselves well,” Suggs said. “Sometimes taking responsibility for how you carry yourself opens more opportunities than you think.”<\/p>\n The state\u2019s response to young voters\u2019 shifting politics and views of socialism is also\u00a0emerging, particularly in politics and education.<\/p>\n