US Socialist Movement Faces Deepening Divisions Amid Growth

The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), a prominent left-wing movement in the United States, is experiencing significant internal strife as its popularity surges. A key point of contention is the potential 2028 presidential candidacy of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who is known for her strong criticism of Israel. Some within the DSA view her as too establishment and question her suitability to represent the movement.

Internal debates are intensifying over who should represent the DSA and what policies it should champion. This comes at a time when the socialist left and the DSA specifically are achieving greater political success and attracting record numbers of new members. However, this increased public visibility has also led to criticism of the leadership's handling of key issues and its public presentation of the movement's stances.

Critics within the DSA argue that the organization is wasting opportunities by focusing on what they deem "bizarre" issues like Fidel Castro and the abolition of the Senate and police, rather than capitalizing on the growth potential offered by figures like Ocasio-Cortez, Bernie Sanders, and Zephyr Teachout. DSA's national communications manager, Priscilla Grim, acknowledged the organization is navigating a new landscape, stating that past methods are now attracting unexpected attention and that leaders, being largely working-class individuals new to media, are learning.

A recent controversial platform, "Workers Deserve More," published in July, proposed abolishing the U.S. Senate, defunding the Department of Defense, and fully dismantling the police and prison systems. This platform caused many DSA-aligned politicians, including Ocasio-Cortez, to distance themselves from it. Leaders like DSA national co-chair Megan Romer have struggled to clearly articulate some of the organization's more radical positions in public forums.

Further controversy arose in August when the DSA national organization published a statement commemorating Cuban leader Fidel Castro, condemning the Trump administration's "genocide" against the Cuban people and calling Castro a symbol of anti-imperialism. This statement also drew criticism, with co-chair Aashik Siddiq struggling to defend Castro's regime in a CNN interview. These events have led critics to argue that the DSA is struggling to adapt to its new political standing and increased public scrutiny.

Ocasio-Cortez herself has actively distanced herself from the national DSA, clarifying to ABC News that she is only a member of the New York City local chapter, not the national organization. Even within the DSA, some ideological factions, such as a Marxist-Leninist-Maoist group, have explicitly rejected the idea of Ocasio-Cortez as a future standard-bearer, citing her "consistent pattern of opportunism."