GOP seizes on DSA platform calling for new constitution, Senate abolition

Group’s recent primary wins amplify Republican attacks ahead of midterms

DSA platform draws GOP fire as midterm messaging intensifies

Republicans over the weekend seized on a new platform published by the Democratic Socialists of America that calls for abolishing the Senate and drafting a new U.S. Constitution, using the document to frame Democrats as aligned with extremists and communists ahead of November’s midterm elections.

The DSA’s “Workers Deserve More” platform, published earlier this month, proposes sweeping changes to the structure of the U.S. government. Among its provisions are abolishing the Senate, replacing the president and the Supreme Court with leaders picked by Congress, and allowing all permanent U.S. residents to vote. The platform also calls for a number of social reforms.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., wrote on X that “The barbarians are inside the gate — and Democrats are WELCOMING them in.” He added: “Communism is no longer a far fetched threat. It is here on our SHORES!”

Although the DSA platform does not necessarily line up exactly with the agendas of the candidates the group has endorsed, the GOP’s attacks have been amplified by the DSA’s recent string of primary victories. Republican leaders have highlighted the document as evidence of what they describe as a radical shift within the Democratic Party.

“It is here on our SHORES!”

The DSA’s proposals have drawn criticism from other prominent Republicans as well. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., joined Johnson in condemning the platform. Former President Donald Trump has also escalated similar attacks against Democrats in recent weeks, labeling them “communists” and “godless” in campaign speeches and social media posts.

DSA national director Abdul El-Sayed and Megan Romer, the group’s deputy director, have defended the platform as a statement of long-term goals rather than an immediate legislative agenda. The group has described the proposals as part of a broader vision for worker empowerment and social justice.

The DSA’s platform does not represent the official position of the Democratic National Committee. DNC Chair Jaime Harrison has sought to distance the party from the DSA’s most far-reaching proposals, emphasizing that Democratic candidates campaign on their own individual platforms.

The GOP’s focus on the DSA’s platform comes as the party seeks to frame the midterm elections as a choice between American values and what it characterizes as a slide toward socialism. Republican strategists have argued that highlighting the DSA’s proposals helps galvanize voters who might otherwise be apathetic about the midterms.

“Washington News”

The DSA has notched several notable primary victories this year, including in New York, Michigan, and other states. The group’s growing electoral influence has made it a frequent target for Republican campaign messaging.