The GOP’s New Red Scare

Republicans Outline Strategy to Label Democratic Candidates as Socialists and Communists Ahead of 2026 Midterms

Republican campaign advisers have recommended that GOP candidates describe Democratic opponents as socialists, Marxists, or communists during the 2026 midterm elections. The approach appears in a July 20 polling memo prepared by the conservative research firm co/efficient for the House Republican Conference and obtained by the Washington Examiner.

The memo states that “Communism rings the loudest alarm with constituents (42 percent name it the most dangerous system)” and advises linking socialism, Marxism, and communism as “fruit of the same poisonous tree.” It suggests using the terms to highlight perceived risks to American institutions. The recommendation follows primary victories by several Democratic candidates endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America.

The memo also reports that 63 percent of respondents expressed being very or somewhat concerned about socialist candidates holding office. The survey grouped respondents into broad categories such as women and Americans of color without providing further demographic breakdowns. The question on the most dangerous system of government offered only three options: communism (42 percent), socialism (15 percent), and Marxism (6 percent).

Communist Party membership in the United States reached its highest levels in the 1930s and 1940s but remained in the tens of thousands. After World War II, congressional investigations and loyalty programs examined alleged communist influence in government, universities, labor unions, and cultural institutions. Senator Joseph McCarthy’s Senate hearings in the early 1950s produced several high-profile confrontations before his censure by the Senate in 1954. Historians have documented both documented cases of Soviet espionage and instances in which accusations lacked substantiation.

The co/efficient memo links current Democratic candidates aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America to earlier communist movements. Democratic Socialists of America, founded in 1982, advocates policies including expanded public ownership in certain sectors, stronger labor protections, and universal healthcare programs. Several DSA-endorsed members currently serve in Congress, including Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan.

Public polling on economic systems has shown varied results. Surveys conducted over the past decade have found majority support for capitalism when respondents are asked to choose between capitalism and socialism, though younger adults have expressed more favorable views of socialism in some polls. A CNBC survey released in 2025 indicated that voters in certain districts rated DSA-endorsed candidates more favorably than candidates closely identified with former President Donald Trump’s agenda.

On July 3, President Trump stated at Mount Rushmore that a “communist menace” was again present in American institutions and pledged to “vanquish Communism quickly.” He also criticized interpretations of American history that describe the country as founded on stolen land or portray historical figures primarily as oppressors. The State Department later issued a report titled “Cuba: the Capital of Twenty-First Century Communism,” which described Cuban government efforts to maintain contacts with U.S. organizations critical of immigration enforcement and with various leftist groups.

The memo’s presentation of polling data has drawn scrutiny for the limited response options provided to respondents. No questions addressed other potential concerns such as authoritarian governance structures or concentrated corporate power. Earlier polls by different organizations have recorded low favorability ratings for communism specifically, with most respondents viewing it negatively.

Republican strategists have argued that associating Democrats with socialism or communism highlights differences over taxation, regulation, and the role of government in the economy. Democratic leaders have rejected the characterizations, describing their policy proposals as extensions of existing programs such as Social Security and Medicare.

The strategy coincides with Republican efforts to retain House and Senate majorities in 2026. Campaign spending on advertising that uses ideological labels has increased in recent cycles, according to data from the Federal Election Commission. Historical records show that similar rhetoric appeared in elections following the 1940s, though its electoral impact varied by district and national conditions.

The co/efficient document does not include detailed methodology or sample sizes beyond the topline figures cited. Analysts have noted that broad categories such as “somewhat concerned” can encompass a wide range of intensity levels among respondents.