Socialism and the Democratic Party: The Case for a Return to Moderated Capitalism

A clear-eyed examination of the promise of socialism from Marx to Mamdani, how a new generation has created a movement by redefining the word, and why Democrats must use the opportunity to revive a more sensible version of moderated capitalism, regardless of how it’s labeled.

The word “socialism”—embraced by some, feared by others, and often poorly defined by both—has re-entered the mainstream of Democratic politics, culminating in the election of self-described democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York in 2025.

In Socialism and the Democratic Party, political strategist and commentator Blake Ashby examines the foundational economic theories of Karl Marx, the history of their real-world results, and their relationship with Democratic politics to make the case that while modern forms of traditional socialism will still fail, a younger generation has redefined the word to mean “social responsibility”—and we shouldn’t be frightened when they say “social democracy” or even “democratic socialism.”

By tracing how deregulation, ideological rigidity, and political polarization eroded the FDR-era model of moderated capitalism that produced historic growth and stability, this book offers a powerful path forward that challenges Democrats to reject extremes and focus on policies and outcomes, not labels.

For readers seeking a thoughtful and pragmatic guide to how the Democratic Party can best move forward in—and beyond—the Trump era, this book delivers a vision for renewal grounded in what actually works.

Blake Ashby is a successful entrepreneur, teacher, and political strategist and commentator. He and his wife are residents of Ferguson, Missouri, where he has served on the city council. After many years of voting Democratic, he recently formally joined the party and is now the president of the Ferguson Democratic Township. Through his “Red State Democrats” project (RedStateDemocrats.org), he is working with numerous Democratic candidates to help return the party to its economic roots and take back the House of Representatives.

Over a thirty-year career, he learned capitalism from the inside, helping to start dozens of successful companies as a consultant and principal, including one of the fastest broadband Internet providers in the world and one of the most successful legal cannabis companies in the United States. For many years, he oversaw a data standards body for the US meat and poultry industry. A longtime teacher of business and capitalism, he served as an executive coach for one of the leading university entrepreneurialism programs in the United States and helped develop an innovative class to teach capitalism to urban youth.