U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) finds herself at odds with her own political movement after activists accused her of abandoning socialist principles. The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has intensified pressure on the congresswoman, claiming she has become “too mainstream” for the progressive base that propelled her to national prominence.
The tension erupted following an interview where Ocasio-Cortez emphasized her affiliation with New York City DSA over the national organization and avoided endorsing fellow DSA candidates like Wisconsin gubernatorial hopeful Francesca Hong and Minneapolis mayoral candidate Omar Fateh. Hong previously faced backlash after a “Cancel Thanksgiving” social media post resurfaced, while Fateh’s campaign encountered criticism over a video showing him pledging loyalty to Somalia.
The DSA’s Liberation Caucus—a faction embracing Marxist-Leninist-Maoist ideology—recently withdrew support for any hypothetical presidential run by Ocasio-Cortez. They labeled her actions a “retreat from socialist politics,” citing insufficient solidarity with Palestine and failure to participate in the group’s “Federal Socialists in Office” initiatives. The caucus warned that pursuing a national campaign would lead to “even more capitulations to the imperialists.”
Ocasio-Cortez has long been credited with making democratic socialism appealing to young progressives. Yet her growing influence within the Democratic Party now risks alienating the very activists who helped build her brand. The DSA’s rapid expansion—from 50,000 members in 2020 to over 120,000 by July 2026—has deepened internal divisions. Local chapters and ideological caucuses now compete fiercely over what socialism means in practice, with the national organization advocating radical measures like abolishing the presidency, Senate, Supreme Court, police, and prisons.
The group recently celebrated Fidel Castro as an “organizer,” “fighter,” and “stalwart symbol of anti-imperialist struggle.” This stance has drawn scrutiny from activists questioning Ocasio-Cortez’s alignment with DSA priorities. To remain viable in mainstream politics, she must reassure voters wary of communism and revolutionary rhetoric. Yet to satisfy the movement’s left wing, she must prove she hasn’t been “domesticated by Washington.”
As the DSA’s internal fractures widen, Ocasio-Cortez now confronts a dilemma she helped create: becoming a plausible national candidate while staying true to the progressive ideals that launched her career.
