Since 1879, the third Monday of February has been a federal holiday to honor America’s first president, George Washington, who was born on February 22.
Presidents’ Day, which falls on February 16, is a day intended to celebrate the high office of the U.S. commander-in-chief, the person leading the most powerful government in the world, as it currently stands.
It is also an occasion to reflect on the potential future of the American presidency, which could go in a very different direction very soon.
One does not need to read the political tealeaves to understand that the next president of the United States could be a democratic socialist.
The polls now show many Democratic Party likely voters want democratic socialism.
Based on a Politico 2025 survey, “74 percent of likely Democratic voters said democratic socialism comes closest to their viewpoint.” The authors note, “more than half of likely Democratic voters prefer socialist-aligned figures like Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Zohran Mamdani to establishment politicians like Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries and Nancy Pelosi.”
Recent Gallup polling confirms the trend of Democrats embracing socialism. In 2010, “only” 50 percent of self-identified Democrats had a “positive image of socialism.” As of 2025, pro-socialist Democrats have increased to 66 percent.
When asked if they want a democratic socialist to win the White House in 2028, more than half of young likely voters said “yes.” The poll of likely voters aged 18 to 39 found that “nearly 60 percent of those aged 18 to 24 and well north of 50 percent of those aged 25 to 29 expressed their support that a democratic socialist win the 2028 presidential election, including about a quarter of self-identified Republicans and 42% of moderates.”
It is especially concerning that such a large portion of all young Americans, including those who lean to the right and those in the middle, would vote for a democratic socialist in the next presidential election.
Sadly, a large number of Americans from across the political spectrum want someone in the Oval Office pushing the radical democratic socialist agenda.
Aside from bad policies, democratic socialism is anathema to America’s founding values. It is the antithesis of what President Washington sought to protect under the Constitution.
The Declaration of Independence emphasized that the United States would create a government in which “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness.”
The Constitution, which the president of the United States is sworn to uphold, protects individual rights, safeguards property rights, and prevents centralization of power. It was specifically designed to circumvent the likes of despotic democratic socialism governance.
In order to be enacted effectively, a democratic socialist president would need to twist and turn the Constitution upside-down and inside-out. However, that is not as far-fetched as it might seem.
As the United States celebrates its 250th birthday, it is fair to say that the Constitution has already been twisted more times than a Bavarian pretzel.
Remember when there was outrage about the PATRIOT Act? Remember when Americans cared about protecting their inalienable rights?
Albeit this is anecdotal, but in my estimation, I think the overwhelming majority of Americans are apathetic at best when it comes to upholding the principles of the Constitution, preserving individual rights, and defending federalism.
In fact, I think the collectivist/utilitarian philosophy has become so mainstream that most Americans are fine with the “ends justify the means” if so-called oppressed groups are getting the better end of the deal.
This should be recognized as a canary in the communist coal mine.
For socialism/collectivism/communism to take root, emotions like envy must be stirred.
Democratic socialist demagogues like Mamdani, Bernie, AOC, and many more have and will continue to decry the founding of this nation. They will ridicule presidents like Washington, Jefferson, and even Lincoln.
However, they offer a future based on a zero-sum game. They want a society that redistributes existing wealth rather than fostering new wealth through innovation and the invisible hand.
While it certainly is concerning to see socialism rising from the grave in America, I don’t think it necessarily means the American dream is dead. Political movements can be fickle. They can turn on a dime.
Free-market reforms in health care and education could be game-changers. Technology advancements could boost productivity and raise living standards.
I remain upbeat because the human condition desires freedom. Democratic socialism is not based upon freedom; therefore, I think history shows that over the long-term, it is doomed to fail.
Happy Presidents’ Day, America.
Chris Talgo (ctalgo@heartland.org) is editorial director at The Heartland Institute.