Almost every House Democrat on Tuesday voted against a congressional resolution disavowing socialism and calling for the enactment of President Trump’s election security bill.
The non-binding resolution, introduced by Rep. Jeff Crank (R-Colo.), asked lawmakers to condemn and denounce “socialism in all its forms,” including the increasingly influential Democratic Socialists of America movement, and oppose the implementation of socialist policies in the US.
The resolution passed in a 220-192 vote, with 192 Democrats opposing the measure.
Eight Democrats voted with all Republicans in support of the resolution: Reps. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas), Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), Darren Soto (D-Fla.), Jared Golden (D-Maine),
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.), Don Davis (D-NC) and Gabe Vasquez (D-NM).
Two Democrats voted present: Reps. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) and Maggie Goodlander (D-NH).
“The DSA candidate platform stands in direct contrast to our republic,” Crank charged ahead of the vote. “Getting rid of the United States Senate, open borders, defunding the police, allowing non-citizens to vote in federal elections — those aren’t consistent with our Constitution.
“DSA is an insidious movement within the Democratic Party.”
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) explained how communism in Cuba “destroyed” her mother’s family, stripping her mother of her home, her grandfather of his small business, and causing “my family to break up and never see each other again.”
“That is what they’re refusing to condemn today,” Malliotakis said, slamming Democrats.
“Let’s be clear that socialism is communism lite. Socialism is the first step to communism. And if anybody doubts what I’m saying, just listen to Vladimir Lenin,” she added.
Since Zohran Mamdani’s breakthrough victory in the New York City mayoral contest last year, nearly 300 DSA-backed candidates have run for office in local, state and federal elections across the country.
An analysis by the Brookings Institution found that 123 DSA-endorsed candidates have won primaries in the 2026 cycle, including 19 in congressional races and five in statewide contests.
Several socialist candidates have been boosted by Mamdani and lefty lawmakers like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)
“Corporate greed is hurting Americans, not democratic socialists, who are fighting for universal healthcare, child care and clean water,” Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) said during the House floor debate.
Tlaib accused Republicans of cutting outlays to federal programs to give “corporate donors $4.5 trillion in tax breaks.”
“But yet here we are, blaming again, democratic socialists who are trying to make life easier for our families, not the billionaire class,” she continued. “And I proudly, as a DSA member, say tax the rich.”
Several Democrats fumed that Republicans included language touting Trump’s SAVE America Act – a highly partisan election integrity bill largely – in the anti-socialism resolution.
“This is a stupid resolution,” Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) argued. “It completely ignores the reality of Americans are worried about today.”
Pocan continued, “Forget that somehow, for some reason, the ‘Save America Voter Suppression Act’ is thrown in here, an act perhaps even more stupid than this resolution itself.”
“So this is just stupid, and it’s insulting to Americans trying to get by … we’re dealing with none of that, not one thing to make Americans lives easier,” the congressman added. “Instead, we’re dealing with this stupid resolution.”
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), a centrist who has been outspoken in his opposition to the DSA, told Axios he would’ve supported the measure had it been solely focused on denouncing socialism.
“This isn’t a serious bill,” Gottheimer said of the resolution.
