Divisions Within Democratic Socialists of America Highlighted by AOC's Potential Presidential Run

<p>Rep. <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/28/aoc-staff-changes-2028-decision" target="_blank">Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez</a>'s potential run for president has exposed divisions within the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/20/dsa-impeachment-trump-vindman-nixon-democrats" target="_blank">Democratic Socialists of America</a> (DSA).</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>Leaders within the socialism movement are increasingly at odds over representation, policy positions, and support for <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/16/aoc-walk-back-positions-2028" target="_blank">AOC</a>, with some viewing her as more aligned with establishment politics.</p><hr /><p><strong>Driving the news: </strong>Political success has brought scrutiny, and some DSA members and strategists believe the current leadership is not adequately prepared for the upcoming 2026 <a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/2026-midterm-elections" target="_blank">midterms</a> and the <a href="https://www.axios.com/signup/axios-2028" target="_blank">2028</a> Democratic presidential primary.</p><ul><li>"We're not in a book club anymore," said one strategist working with the DSA. "You could be growing this organization by pointing to AOC, Bernie [Sanders], [Zohran] <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/01/harris-mamdani-progressives-2028" target="_blank">Mamdani</a> — and instead they are going on cable news talking about abolishing the Senate, <a href="https://www.keysnews.com/news/national/dsa-faces-heat-over-praise-for-fidel-castro/article_90f7aa99-0662-4566-9458-5e68c5d87a79.html" target="_blank">Fidel Castro</a> and other issues. It's a blown opportunity."</li><li>Priscilla Yeverino, the DSA's communications director, acknowledged in an interview with Axios, "The ways that we operated in the past are now making headlines in ways that we didn't expect."</li><li>Yeverino added, "Our leaders aren't politicians. They're working-class people and new to doing media. It's been a learning experience, and they are listening to our members' feedback."</li></ul><p><strong>The DSA's critics point to several </strong>unforced errors made as the group has seen increased success in primaries:</p><ol><li><strong>In July, the national DSA published</strong> a "Workers Deserve More" platform outlining the group's political vision, which included controversial proposals such as abolishing the Senate, defunding the Department of Defense, and working toward "fully abolishing the police and prison system."</li></ol><ul><li>Many DSA and DSA-friendly politicians were surprised by the new agenda, and several — including AOC — distanced themselves from the group.</li></ul><p>2. <strong>Megan Romer, a national DSA co-chair,</strong> struggled to articulate her organization's positions <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RWsHLvBntg" target="_blank">in a podcast interview</a> with the New Yorker's David Remnick.</p><ul><li>When Romer was asked about "taxing the hell" out of the rich and powerful, Remnick pressed: "If you're the co-chair of the DSA, shouldn't you be more specific than 'taxing the hell' out of something? What exactly do you mean?"</li><li>Romer appeared caught off guard and replied, "That's a good question" before attempting to answer further.</li><li>When Remnick inquired if Romer would have her concerns about Israel and Gaza addressed with the <a href="https://history.state.gov/milestones/1993-2000/oslo" target="_blank">2000 Camp David Summit proposal</a>, Romer stated: "I need to look at what the actual specifics there were, I don't know them off the top of my head."</li></ul><p>3. <strong>In August, the national DSA</strong> issued a statement commemorating the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro and condemning the Trump administration's actions against the Cuban people.</p><ul><li>"Fidel was an organizer, a fighter, and endures as a stalwart symbol of anti-imperialist struggle and self-determination for the Global South," <a href="https://www.dsausa.org/statements/dsa-commemorates-100-years-of-fidel-and-denounces-rubios-genocide-against-the-cuban-people/" target="_blank">the DSA wrote</a>.</li><li>Ashik Siddique, another national DSA co-chair, struggled to defend the Castro regime in an <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/19/politics/video/cncpm-democratic-socialists-of-america-fidel-castro" target="_blank">interview</a> with CNN.</li></ul><p><strong>The intrigue:</strong> AOC's potential presidential campaign has also led to further drama within the DSA. </p><ul><li>She was at the center of internal disputes when the national DSA voted to maintain control over the group's 2028 endorsement process, which some local chapters viewed as an attempt to prevent a swift AOC endorsement.</li><li>The New York City DSA chapter protested the national group's decision, with DSA NYC co-chair Gustavo Gordillo <a href="https://x.com/unionGustavo/status/2076409763441606829?s=20" target="_blank">posting</a> that "DSA's national leadership … just voted to overturn our convention."</li></ul><p><strong>AOC has also distanced herself </strong>from the national DSA group.</p><ul><li>When asked by ABC about some of the national DSA's proposals, Ocasio-Cortez clarified that she was not a member of the national group — only the chapter in her home city of New York.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom in: </strong>The DSA includes ideologues who may contribute to further divisions as 2028 approaches.</p><ul><li>The DSA's Marxist-Leninist-Maoist Caucus recently posted a letter stating it "rejects any effort to present [AOC] as the future presidential standard-bearer for DSA, or for the broader socialist movement."</li><li>The group continued: "AOC's record demonstrates a consistent pattern of opportunism."</li></ul><p><strong>Longtime DSA members acknowledge</strong> the growing pains but note that a record number of individuals are joining the group.</p><ul><li>They argue that socialists have historically been factional and often disagree — sometimes passionately.</li><li>Mamdani, the democratic socialist and New York City mayor, has had disagreements with the DSA <a href="https://abcnews.com/Politics/week-transcript-6-28-26-new-york-city/story?id=134279911" target="_blank">but recently told ABC</a>: "I'm not interested in writing a manifesto or, frankly, in reading one. I'm interested in delivering, and that's exactly what we've been showing."</li></ul>