Voters grow wary of socialism ahead of 2026 midterms

Milwaukee’s practical approach to socialist governance

Milwaukee’s brand of “Sewer Socialism” functioned as a practical, Midwestern-flavored approach that focused on improving the lives of working-class people through parks, public housing, and functioning sewers instead of class warfare. Historian John Gurda said the era was probably more social democracy than ideology.

These officials were anti-capitalist but worked with anyone, and their lack of ideological emphasis helped their success. Gurda says the era offers lessons for today’s progressives because the Socialists were not ideologues but sought to create a better life for working people.

Immigrant influence and the rise of local socialist officials

Voters in Milwaukee chose Socialist officials due to high-level corruption and a large working-class population where 57 percent of males were employed in manufacturing. An active community of educated German immigrants introduced these Socialist ideas.

German immigrants gathered at Turner Hall for social life. This site functioned as an intellectual salon that hosted lectures, discourses, and debates.

Public infrastructure improvements under socialist leadership

Before the treatment facility was built, all sewage in the region flowed directly into rivers and then Lake Michigan, which was the city’s drinking water source. While a private company might have constructed the sewage-treatment system, the massive initial capital cost led to it being financed by public taxes.

One of the first actions taken by the inaugural Socialist mayor, Emil Seidel, was to set up a public display of the city’s budget to attract frugal immigrants.

During Daniel Hoan’s 24-year administration, Milwaukee earned so many awards for being the safest, healthiest, and cleanest large city in America that the public-health award was retired to allow other cities a chance.

Commercial success from municipal wastewater initiatives

Hoan helped create Milwaukee Organic Nitrogen, known as the fertilizer Milorganite, which is made from wastewater microorganisms. CBS News reported that this product is still sold today and brings in millions of dollars each year for the city.

Milorganite remains popular with master gardeners, golf-course superintendents, and homeowners.

Integration of socialist concepts into national policy

By the time Frank Zeidler left office in 1960, the Democratic Party had adopted the most popular Socialist concepts.

According to Gurda, the New Deal co-opted Socialist rhetoric, turning ideas such as old-age insurance into Social Security in 1935. This process also shifted progressive policies toward the Democratic Party.