Bill Maher is warning that the Democratic Party’s growing socialist wing could push the party in a more radical direction, even after Democrats posted major victories in the midterm elections.

During Friday’s “Overtime” segment of “Real Time,” Maher said younger Americans are increasingly attracted to socialism without having been taught enough about the failures of socialist and communist systems.

"The reason why they don't know that socialism didn't work in the past, to this degree, or Communism, is because nobody taught them in school," Maher said.

He described that problem as "an indictment of our educational system," arguing that schools have failed to give younger generations enough historical context to evaluate the political and economic systems they are now embracing.

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Maher’s comments come as democratic socialist candidates have gained influence within the Democratic Party and won several notable elections.

In Los Angeles, democratic socialist Nithya Raman defeated incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. Washington, D.C., elected Democratic Socialist Janeese Lewis George, while New York City is already led by Zohran Mamdani, who won the mayoral race in 2025.

Those victories have intensified debate over how far left the Democratic Party is moving and whether candidates aligned with socialist politics are becoming a larger force in major cities.

Maher stopped short of rejecting all government programs associated with social spending.

"We already have a lot of socialism and a lot of it is appropriate," Maher said.

He specifically pointed to Social Security and Medicare as examples of programs he supports.

At the same time, Maher drew a distinction between those programs and what he sees as the ambitions of the party’s more ideological left.

"These people want communism," he warned.

Political commentator Coleman Hughes also raised concerns about socialist economic policies during the discussion, focusing in particular on rent control.

Hughes questioned policies that can discourage new housing construction and worsen supply shortages, putting housing affordability at the center of the broader debate over government intervention.

The discussion also touched on international examples frequently cited by critics of socialism.

Venezuela experienced a severe economic collapse under socialist governments that expanded nationalization, price controls and state intervention. Those policies were combined with corruption, heavy dependence on oil revenues and other pressures that contributed to a crisis that drove millions of people from the country.

Cuba has also continued to struggle with shortages and infrastructure failures under its centrally planned economy. A nationwide power outage in March 2026 highlighted the country’s ongoing economic and infrastructure problems.

Maher’s broader concern was that Democratic leaders are not doing enough to distinguish the party from its more radical ideological factions.

He suggested that moderate Democrats need to decide whether they are willing to confront activists and candidates who want to move the party further toward socialism.

"Who has the guts to say this is the Democratic Party, you are doing a whole different thing?" he asked.

The question comes at a moment when Democrats are celebrating significant electoral gains while also facing internal arguments over the party’s future direction.

The party’s socialist wing has increasingly built power through primaries, local races and campaigns centered on issues such as housing affordability and the cost of living.

Critics argue that those campaigns can package broader ideological goals around popular economic concerns, while supporters say the policies address problems that establishment politicians have failed to solve.

Maher’s comments made clear that he sees a growing divide within the Democratic coalition.

While he supports programs such as Social Security and Medicare, he warned against allowing the party’s left flank to push beyond those policies into much broader government control.

His remarks also placed part of the responsibility on the education system, arguing that younger voters are making political choices without enough understanding of how socialist and communist systems performed historically.

As democratic socialist candidates continue winning races and expanding their influence, the internal Democratic debate over how far left the party should move is likely to intensify.

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