Eight House Democrats voted with Republicans on Tuesday to condemn “socialism in all its forms” and the Democratic Socialists of America, marking the latest flashpoint in the broader ideological war between the Democratic Party’s establishment and its insurgent socialist wing.
The resolution passed in a 220-192 vote. Nearly every single Republican and independent Rep. Kevin Kiley (CA), who caucuses with the GOP, voted in favor. The Democratic support came from Reps. Kathy Castor (FL), Henry Cuellar (TX), Don Davis (NC), Jared Golden (ME), Vicente Gonzalez (TX), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA), Darren Soto (FL), and Gabe Vasquez (NM).
Democratic Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (PA) and Maggie Goodlander (NH) voted present, while 11 other House Democrats did not vote at all.
The overwhelming majority of House Democrats opposed the measure. A large portion cited the fact that the resolution also included language expressing support for the enactment of the SAVE America Act, a voter ID bill backed by President Donald Trump.
“House Republicans continue to desperately push toxic voter suppression legislation instead of working to make life more affordable for everyday Americans in the midst of a searing cost-of-living crisis,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), adding that the he was voting no because of the SAVE Act.
Authored by Rep. Jeff Crank (R-CO), the resolution not only “condemns and denounces socialism,” but also stipulates that condemnation includes DSA. It further expresses opposition to the “implementation of socialist policies in the United States.”
Four moderate Democrats — Reps. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Hillary Scholten (D-MI), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), and Tom Suozzi (D-NY) — proposed an amendment to the resolution Monday that would have stripped the SAVE Act endorsement out. The amendment would have also listed the failures of socialism in foreign nations. It was not adopted by the GOP dominated House Rules Committee, however.
The vote comes amid a string of victories by socialist candidates, including Melat Kiros in Denver and Darializa Avila Chevalier in New York, have ousted off longtime Democratic incumbents. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also defeated the Democratic establishment in last year’s mayoral race.
Those victories have coincided with a surge in DSA membership. The group reached 120,000 members this year, making it the largest socialist organization in American history.
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Republicans have turned much of their 2026 messaging strategy toward the rise of socialism. The Washington Examiner reported in July that the House Republican Conference released a memo advising members to tie socialism and Marxism to communism when criticizing Democrats because they consider communism “far more dangerous and alarming.”
“Americans still hold communism as far more dangerous and alarming than socialism and Marxism,” the memo read. “That is an important indicator for Members: do your best to connect all three together, because these government systems are fruit of the same poisonous tree.”