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Infighting has erupted within the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) about the selection of its pick for U.S. president, as the group’s influence continues to grow on the national stage and speculation swirls about a 2028 presidential run by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.
The infighting reveals fractures in the roughly 120,000-member group, which has emerged as the preeminent socialist group in America. The division also sheds light on how some Democratic Socialists of America members believe the group can gain a permanent foothold in American politics and deliver on its socialist ideals on a national scale.
Some Democratic Socialists of America leaders have been pushing for an earlier presidential endorsement in place of the group’s normal practice of selecting endorsements at its biennial national convention, which is set for summer 2027.
One faction known as the “Groundwork” caucus is pushing strongly for the group to conduct a national member poll and “endorse AOC on day one.” The caucus believes an early endorsement will help DSA hold a more influential early role in 2028 presidential politics and “build power for socialism.”
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In one online petition, DSA members voiced that “if we don’t have a member poll, we as members will be left out of DSA’s most fundamental way of building a democratic strategy.”
However, in a Sunday 14–13 vote, DSA’s National Political Committee (NPC) rejected a proposal to allow the group’s 2028 presidential endorsement to be decided through a nationwide all-member poll, according to Canary Mission. By rejecting the proposal, the committee left the issue to DSA’s existing convention process, meaning any national endorsement decision would likely wait until the organization’s next convention in August 2027.
The decision was blasted by many DSA members online.
Gustavo Gordillo, co-chair of the group’s New York City chapter, posted on X that “DSA’s national leadership (the NPC) just voted to overturn our convention & took away rank and file members’ right to vote in an all-member poll on presidential endorsement.”
Gordillo added that the committee is “taking away our members’ right to vote” while NYC-DSA, the group’s largest chapter, is “send(ing) them ~ $2M per year in dues.”
Likewise, J. Ryder, founding editor of a magazine on communism, wrote that the committee’s decision “to suppress polling the will of the members on presidential endorsement is severely disappointing.”
Ryder added that “this will inevitably put DSA on the back foot in the 2028 moment,” writing, “Waiting to endorse in August of next year at the convention may mean 6 months+ of vital AOC campaign time where the masses will be mobilizing without intervention by DSA.”
“The worst part is, the members want to mobilize, they see the opportunity that this moment represents for socialism and want so desperately to grasp it,” he added. “The fact the (sic) some sectarians on the NPC are suppressing even a non-binding poll shows that they know this, and are scared of the implications of member democracy and mass politics in DSA.”
In response, committee member Amy Wilhelm fired back at Gordillo, posting on X that “NYC members deserve co-chairs that don’t lie.”
Wilhelm said that “there was never intention to prevent” DSA members from participating in chapter polls, and that “with the resolution where we left it today chapters are allowed to carry out the poll per their standard method.”
Likewise, another X user who goes by the name “tylerisposting” blasted Gordillo, telling him in an X post to “stop lying” and “stop trying to foment a split.”
Meanwhile, Eve Seitchik, a Massachusetts DSA member, characterized the events of the day as “a massive escalation of factional tensions,” adding, “I’m afraid DSA has been set down a dangerous path.”
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The authors posited that DSA’s recent electoral wins and Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., “Fight Oligarchy” tour “have shown that there is energy all across the country to support a bold, democratic socialist presidential campaign.”
They argued that “DSA should be ready to position ourselves as the political home for the millions of people that will be inspired by AOC’s message and position our organization as the vital core of AOC’s campaign.”
They wrote that Ocasio-Cortez is “on the precipice of running for — and potentially winning — the presidency of the United States” and that “this opportunity is years in the making.”
“If we drag our feet,” they wrote, “we will have forced ourselves into the backseat and miss the opportunity to strike when the iron is hot.”
The four-term congresswoman has not directly said whether she will launch a presidential run in 2028. Rumors are also circulating about her opting to instead run for the Senate to topple Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
Though Ocasio-Cortez is considered one of the most prominent socialists in the country and a close ally of Sanders, she has run afoul of DSA leadership several times.
In summer 2025, the group issued a statement condemning Ocasio-Cortez’s vote against an amendment to block additional funding for Israel’s “Iron Dome,” which would have denied Israel an additional $500 million in U.S. funding for its preeminent missile defense system. In 2024, the DSA withdrew its endorsement for Ocasio-Cortez’s re-election, citing that she had not met its conditions, including opposing all funding to Israel and publicly supporting boycott and sanctions for the country.
DSA’s New York City chapter notably retained its endorsement for Ocasio-Cortez.
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Commenting on DSA’s deliberations, a spokesperson for Canary Mission told Fox News Digital that “an AOC presidency would give that movement more than influence: it would give its agenda access to the full power of the executive branch.”
The spokesperson added that “putting that power in the hands of a movement that repeatedly places ideological allegiance above America’s national interests, regards America and its allies as the problem, and shows sympathy toward their adversaries would not be political progress. It would be a profound national-security risk—and could be devastating for the country.”
“DSA presents its agenda as a project of reconstruction, but much of its politics begins with dismantling the institutions, alliances, and economic system that sustain those achievements,” the spokesperson said, adding, “For more than a decade, Canary Mission has documented numerous instances in which anti-Zionist activism has crossed into antisemitic harassment, support for extremism, and hostility toward the United States and its democratic allies.”
“As these ideas have moved from activist circles into mainstream politics, DSA has emerged as the primary vehicle through which radical ideology is translated into political success,” said the spokesperson.
Canary Mission keeps its representatives unnamed for security reasons.
Fox News Digital reached out to Ocasio-Cortez’s office and DSA for comment.
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