Infighting has erupted within the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) over the selection of its presidential pick for 2028, as the group’s influence grows on the national stage and speculation swirls about a potential White House run by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. The roughly 120,000-member organization, which has emerged as the preeminent socialist group in the United States, is grappling with deep divisions over how to position itself for the next presidential election cycle.
The conflict centers on a push by some DSA leaders to accelerate the endorsement process, bypassing the group’s traditional practice of selecting candidates at its biennial national convention, which is scheduled for August 2027. A faction known as the «Groundwork» caucus has been advocating for a national member poll to «endorse AOC on day one,» arguing that an early endorsement would allow the DSA to play a more influential role in the 2028 presidential race and «build power for socialism.»
In a Sunday vote of 14 to 13, the 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 reports from Canary Mission. By rejecting the proposal, the committee left the issue to the existing convention process, meaning any national endorsement decision would likely wait until the organization’s next convention in August 2027.
The decision sparked immediate backlash from 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, sends them approximately $2 million per year in dues.
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,» warning that «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,» Ryder continued. «The fact that 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.» Another X user who goes by the name «tylerisposting» blasted Gordillo, telling him to «stop lying» and «stop trying to foment a split.»
Eve Seitchik, a Massachusetts DSA member, characterized the events as «a massive escalation of factional tensions,» adding, «I'm afraid DSA has been set down a dangerous path.» The infighting reveals fractures in the group, which has emerged as the preeminent socialist organization in America, and sheds light on how some members believe the group can gain a permanent foothold in American politics and deliver on its socialist ideals on a national scale.
The push for an early endorsement is driven by a belief among some members that Ocasio-Cortez is «on the precipice of running for — and potentially winning — the presidency of the United States.» In an online petition, DSA members argued that the group’s recent electoral wins and the «Fight Oligarchy» tour featuring Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., «have shown that there is energy all across the country to support a bold, democratic socialist presidential campaign.» They wrote 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.»
«If we drag our feet,» they added, «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, and 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 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. The DSA’s New York City chapter notably retained its endorsement for Ocasio-Cortez at that time.
