The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) Liberation Caucus released a sharply worded statement on Monday, declaring that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez, D‑NY, does not meet the group’s standards for a socialist candidate in the 2028 presidential election. The caucus, which identifies itself as a Marxist‑Leninist‑Maoist faction within DSA, said Ocasio‑Cortez has “retreated from socialist politics” and called her an “opportunist”.
Specific criticisms
The statement singled out several recent actions by the congresswoman. It condemned her vote supporting Israel’s right to exist and criticized her participation in a public panel with the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, which the caucus described as a Zionist organization. The caucus also rebuked Ocasio‑Cortez for co‑signing a House Democratic statement that, after she voted against supplemental weapon funding for Israel, nonetheless affirmed Israel’s right to defensive systems.
In addition, the Liberation Caucus highlighted Ocasio‑Cortez’s recent interview with ABC in which she walked back earlier support for the “defund the police” movement and dismissed the 2020 progressive surge as “crazyyyyy”. The caucus argued that she is now minimizing the historic Black‑led protests of 2020 and labeling them as mere excesses of a “Woke 1” era.
Broader ideological clash
The DSA Liberation Caucus noted that its national organization has recently adopted a program called “Workers Deserve More,” which calls for the elimination of the Senate, the presidency, and the Supreme Court. The caucus said any candidate seeking DSA endorsement must embrace this platform. Because Ocasio‑Cortez does not, the group said it will not endorse her and warned that a potential campaign would only deepen contradictions with the socialist left.
While the national DSA has not formally endorsed Ocasio‑Cortez, the New York City DSA chapter has historically supported her in past elections. The Liberation Caucus suggested that the NYC chapter may consider separating from the national organization over these disagreements.
Context of speculation
Speculation about Ocasio‑Cortez running for president or the Senate in 2028 has been growing, with some polls showing her as a leading Democratic choice. However, she has not announced any candidacy. The Liberation Caucus, formed in 2025, emphasized that it will not provide any support to a campaign it views as insufficiently socialist.
Both the DSA Liberation Caucus and Ocasio‑Cortez’s office declined to comment on the statement.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
