Fox News host Stuart Varney cautioned Wednesday that socialist candidates could make significant gains in the November elections if conservatives underestimate the appeal of certain campaign messages, arguing that issues like taxing the wealthy and expanding government benefits could resonate with voters.
During his commentary, Varney warned against assuming that the recent rise of socialist candidates would quickly lose momentum.
“Conservatives assume that the socialist surge will soon fade. They believe voters outside big cities will reject a socialist message,” Varney said. “There may be some wishful thinking here.”
While Varney argued that some positions associated with the Democratic Socialists of America would likely fail to attract broad public support, he suggested other policy proposals could prove far more effective politically.
According to Varney, campaigns centered on issues such as transgender athletes competing in women’s sports or eliminating fossil fuels would struggle with voters.
Should Democratic Socialists of America candidates campaign on what he described as “wacky, way out ideas,” including support for transgender athletes in women’s sports or ending fossil fuel use, they would be “laughed out of court,” he said.
However, Varney argued that a different message could resonate with many Americans.
“For example, tax the rich,” he said.
Varney claimed that resentment toward wealthy individuals is central to socialist politics and pointed to growing public attention surrounding the fortunes of billionaires.
“You know, jealousy is at the heart of socialism, and the public’s heard all about our newly minted billionaires, and the first trillionaire, Elon Musk,” Varney said. “They are not really universally popular, are they?”
He then described what he viewed as a persuasive political argument.
“Here’s the easy argument: ‘You’ve got all that money, why can’t you pony up a little more tax to relieve our misery?’ Like it or not, that plays well,” Varney said.
The Fox News host also argued that age has become an advantage for many socialist candidates.
“Have you noticed the age of the socialists who are winning?” Varney asked. “They’re young, and energetic, and very good with social media. That counts for something these days.”
Varney also identified several other issues he believes could influence voters heading into the fall elections.
“I hate to say it, but the anti-Semitism that has infected the left, and the Trump hatred which dominates the left, does have some support around our country,” he said.
Summarizing his concerns, Varney argued that some policy positions would remain politically damaging for the left while others could prove more successful.
“If the left keeps pushing defund the police, open the border, no deportations, men in women’s sports, and losing issues, they will not be forming a government anytime soon,” he said. “But if they go big with tax the rich and lots of free stuff for everyone else, they may do better than most of us would like.”
Varney’s remarks appeared to focus in part on recent electoral victories by candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America. The article points to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, along with Mamdani-endorsed candidates Claire Valdez, Brad Lander and Darializa Avila Chevalier, all of whom won congressional races this summer. It also notes that Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidate Melat Kiros won her congressional race in Colorado.
