Policies, Not Labels: AAPIs Embrace Socialist Policies More than the Term “Socialism” Itself 

COMMENTARY

Policies, Not Labels: AAPIs Embrace Socialist Policies More than the Term “Socialism” Itself 

By Sara Sadhwani and Karthick Ramakrishnan
October 31, 2025

Generational divides emerge on political labels such as “socialism,” but not on government solutions to affordability 

In June 2025, Zohran Mamdani stunned the political world by defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary for Mayor of New York City. What looked at first glance like a quirky underdog story is in fact a revealing case study of how progressive economic policy, community organizing, and a shifting electorate is realigning urban politics in America. For AAPI adults in particular—one of the country’s fastest-growing electorate segments—Mamdani’s campaign provides a blueprint for how progressive platforms rooted in economic justice, rather than ideological labels, can resonate broadly.

Mamdani’s victory was far from expected. Having entered the race as a lesser-known state assembly member, he built a grassroots campaign that centered on housing affordability, transit reform, corporate power, and expansive public services. He also found a way to remain authentic to his religious identity without making it a centerpiece of his political messaging. 

Mamdani’s appeal among younger voters was overwhelming: a poll from The Guardian found 60 percent of 18-34-year-olds placed Mamdani first, compared with just 10 percent for Cuomo. In immigrant-rich neighborhoods, especially the multi-ethnic enclaves of Queens and Brooklyn, Mamdani’s support among Asian American and South Asian communities emerged as a visible factor in his surge. 

Crucially, Mamdani’s economic agenda appears aligned with a broader set of patterns in Asian American and Pacific Islander public opinion. Recent opinion data, including from AAPI Data and NCAPA in August 2025 and from AAPI Data and Associated Press-NORC Center in September 2025, indicate that AAPI adults broadly favor government assistance and intervention to ensure economic affordability. For example, 58% of AAPIs support “freezing the rent” in cities with high housing costs. An even greater proportion support government assistance in limiting costs of medication (84%) and increasing funding for low-income students (68%).

Similarly, data from AAPI Data and AP-NORC indicate high support for government policies that provide economic relief. For example, 70 percent of AAPI adults support the government providing free daycare and early childhood education programs for all children under age 5, which is one of the core planks of the Mamdani campaign. A similar proportion support requiring new housing developments to include affordable units, and the vast majority (85%) support government intervention in the form of capping prescription drug prices.

Even as AAPIs broadly support government policies on economic relief, their support for socialistic policies does not necessarily translate to support for socialism as a political label or movement. 44% of AAPI adults have a favorable view of socialism, with only 14% holding a very favorable view. About 1 in 5 AAPI adults did not know enough about socialism to have a view on its favorability. 

Digging deeper, generational differences offer further insight. Younger AAPI adults—particularly those ages 18-34—tend to view ideological labels and economic systems differently than their elders. 64% of AAPI adults ages 18-34 hold a favorable view of socialism, with 29% holding a very favorable view. By contrast, only 27% of AAPIs 65 and older hold a favorable view of socialism. 

While this particular graph might suggest that younger generations hold a more favorable view of socialism because they are more likely to support socialist policies, a deeper dive into policy preference indicates broad levels of support for government assistance across age groups. Thus, while freezing the rent is an especially popular policy among those aged 18 to 34 (with 67% support), the policy also finds significant support among those age 65 and older (58%).

Policies such as the government capping the costs of prescription medication enjoy high favorability across generations. When asked about support for this policy, 75% of those aged 18 to 34 strongly favor capping medication prices, compared to 64% of those aged 65 and older. This shows that socialist policies are well-received within the broader AAPI community, even if the label socialism finds much greater support among younger AAPIs than older members of the community.

Given the strong support for socialist policies and the more lukewarm reception of socialism itself, it’s clear why Mamdani’s progressive campaign has resonated with voters in New York City. His campaign hasn’t emphasized “socialism” as much as an emphasis on affordability, fairness and structural change. His messaging framed big government intervention not as ideology for its own sake but as a tool for community survival: rent freezes, public transit shifts, labor protections – all pitched to working-class New Yorkers, including immigrant families and AAPI communities. 

As we look ahead to a pivotal election year in 2026, other politicians looking to connect with voters concerned about affordability can similarly emphasize the benefits of socialist policies (such as government provision of economic relief) while the cultural hot-button label of socialism itself.  

Photo credit: Madison Swart

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Sara Sadhwani is an assistant professor of politics at Pomona College and a senior researcher at AAPI Data. Karthick Ramakrishnan is the founder and executive director of AAPI Data at UC Berkeley.