Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) expressed deep concern over the growing popularity of socialist candidates, saying it is troubling that large numbers of voters—particularly in heavily Democratic states such as New York—are embracing socialist politics following the state’s recent primary elections.

Speaking on Breitbart News Daily after allies of New York City mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani defeated several establishment Democrats in primary contests, Paul said the trend reflects a dangerous shift in public opinion.

When asked about the increasing influence of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), Paul offered a blunt assessment, saying it was “alarming that you can get majorities – even in a … hellhole like New York.”

He said the results reminded him of themes he explored in his book criticizing socialism, arguing that many younger Americans have developed a favorable view of the ideology without understanding its historical consequences.

“…But still alarming that a majority of people are voting for socialists. I wrote a book a few years ago, The Case Against Socialism, and in it we talked about some of the polls where, you know, majority of young people are thinking, hey, socialism sounds good, why don’t we try it,” Paul said, noting that many of these young people do not actually understand socialism and the consequences of the ideology.

Paul argued that many supporters of socialism fail to recognize what he described as the economic devastation experienced by countries that have embraced the system, contending that they instead associate it with the concept of fairness.

“They don’t understand … the disaster that is Venezuela, the disaster that is Cuba, the disaster that was China, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, all these places,” the senator said. “What they understand it to be is fairness, and they’re like, well, it’s just not fair that you make twice as much money as me, and we’re just going to make it fair.”

He went on to argue that modern culture increasingly emphasizes equal outcomes over individual achievement.

“And they’ve been brought up on this fairness. Now it’s not fair that you run faster than me and that you get the trophy. Everybody should get the trophy,” Paul said.

According to Paul, schools and broader cultural institutions have helped spread this view of fairness, leading many young people to equate socialism with justice while overlooking what he believes are its economic failures. He argued that pursuing equal outcomes ultimately results in shortages, declining prosperity, and the loss of the benefits associated with capitalism.

Paul concluded by suggesting that the rise of socialist candidates reflects either widespread misunderstanding or a broader ideological shift within the political left. While he questioned whether such candidates could prevail in competitive general elections nationwide, he predicted they could continue to find success in New York.

He continued, “It’s ignorance, but it is alarming, and then the other, the other possibility, though, is [the] left goes so far left that maybe they can’t win general elections, but in New York, all these people will win.”