The growing influence of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has become an increasingly prominent topic in national politics, drawing criticism from Republicans and sparking debate within the Democratic Party.
That discussion intensified after DSA co-chair Megan Romer appeared on Fox News with host Shannon Bream, where she discussed a number of the organization’s policy positions.
During the interview, Romer acknowledged that the DSA platform includes proposals such as abolishing the U.S. Senate, replacing the current structure of the presidency and Supreme Court, eliminating Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), easing immigration restrictions, reducing Pentagon funding, ending traditional incarceration, and expanding public ownership of major industries.
She noted that some proposals, including eliminating borders and prisons, represent long-term goals rather than immediate policy objectives.
The interview quickly gained attention online and renewed debate over the role democratic socialism is playing within the Democratic Party, particularly as the 2026 midterm elections approach.
The DSA has expanded its political influence through a series of primary victories in heavily Democratic districts. Candidates backed by the organization have won congressional primaries in New York, Pennsylvania, and Colorado, including Claire Valdez, Darializa Avila Chevalier, Chris Rabb, and Melat Kiros.
If elected in November, they would join current DSA-aligned members of Congress, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib, also known as “The Squad.”
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, has also contributed to the movement’s growing national profile.
The organization’s rise has prompted criticism from some Democratic officials and candidates.
South Carolina Senate candidate Annie Andrews said the platform does not reflect the values of most Americans or South Carolina voters.
Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman questioned why more Democrats have not publicly challenged the DSA, while activist Shannon Watts warned that some of the group’s positions could alienate moderate and independent voters.
Former Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan likewise urged Democrats to distance themselves from the organization.
Republican lawmakers also criticized the platform. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas called the proposals extreme, while Sen. Ashley Moody of Florida argued they would fundamentally reshape the country.
In response, the DSA defended its platform as a long-term vision aimed at improving economic security and expanding public services.
The organization said its priorities include affordable housing, universal health care, childcare, stronger labor protections, and reducing poverty.
It also emphasized that Democratic candidates are not running on an official DSA platform and argued that broader Democratic electoral challenges stem from the party’s relationship with large corporate interests rather than democratic socialist policies.
The platform adopted by the DSA this year includes proposals such as a 32-hour workweek without a reduction in pay, universal health care, expanded public housing, criminal justice reforms, a Green New Deal with increased public ownership of energy and transportation infrastructure, significant reductions in military spending, ending U.S. military aid to Israel, abolishing ICE, statehood for the District of Columbia, eliminating the Electoral College, adopting ranked-choice voting and proportional representation, restructuring the executive and judicial branches, and expanding public ownership of major corporations and essential industries.
Socialism has been attempted in various forms for more than a century, with advocates arguing that government ownership or control of major industries would create greater equality and eliminate economic injustice.
In practice, however, all large-scale socialist experiments have struggled with economic stagnation, poverty, shortages, declining productivity, and political repression.
One of the earliest and most influential examples was the Soviet Union, established after the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution.
Central economic planning initially accelerated industrialization but eventually produced chronic shortages, inefficiency, and limited innovation.
By 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed under the weight of economic weakness, political instability, and public dissatisfaction.
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