DSA's Hostile Takeover

The democratic socialists taking over the Democratic Party often say they just want affordable healthcare. They actually want to end America's constitutional system as we know it.

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It's the "democratic" socialist moment.

The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) engineered the primary victories of three winning candidates in New York's recent congressional races. A week later, DSA-backed Melat Kiros toppled a 30-year incumbent in Colorado's 1st congressional district, sailing to victory. "You are the proof that the power of organized people beats the power of organized money," Kiros told supporters. When House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D–N.Y.) appeared onscreen at a Zohran Mamdani victory party in New York, the crowd chanted, "You're next, you're next, you're next."

The socialists aim to take over the Democratic Party, and some members of the old guard are making nice.

"I can disagree with some of the positions or statements of some of the incoming members of Congress but still welcome them. We are a big tent party," Rep. Johnny Olszewski (D–Md.) told CNN. Sen. Chris Murphy (D–Conn.) agrees: "I'm not a democratic socialist. But I do believe the Democratic Party has been, historically, way too timid in taking on corporate power. I think our party should have bigger ideas."

Others are wary of these "bigger ideas" and see a hard leftward turn as a losing strategy.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D–N.J.) argues that "socialists aren't Democrats. They're socialists." Rep. Adam Smith (D–Wash.) warns of a "dangerous" agenda that amounts to "expressing support for communism…for open borders, defunding the police." Sen. John Fetterman (D–Pa.) is blunter still: "Our party's becoming an orgy of socialism." And veteran Democratic strategist James Carville says it's time to talk "the S-word, schism."

But so far, the rise of the DSA is looking less like a schism and more like a hostile takeover. Some DSA members have been honest about their radical ambitions.

DSA National Political Committee member David Jenkins declares that "our goal is communism"; National Political Committee member Hazel Williams argues that "U.S. imperialism is not a thing that can be reformed away. It has to be overthrown through revolutionary struggle."

Socialism never took hold in America. But those who believe the DSA can't win outside of progressive cities may be underestimating its reach.

We're also in an era when charismatic entertainers can harness the energy of digital crowds to propel themselves to surprising political victories. Trump's complete takeover and transformation of the Republican Party is proof of that. Democrats must now decide, and quickly, whether they'll stand up for the liberal order they claim to defend, or whether they'll succumb to a populist uprising that aims to overturn it.

Producer: Zach Weissmueller

Video editor: John Osterhoudt

Graphics: Lex Villena

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