Representative Jeff Crank, R-Colo., has introduced a House resolution condemning socialism in all its forms, stating his intention to compel moderate House Democrats to publicly oppose the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Crank expressed his desire to see if lawmakers who claim to oppose the DSA will vote in favor of a resolution that formally denounces the group.
Crank's resolution points to the recent electoral successes of DSA-endorsed candidates as a sign of the movement's growing influence. A Brookings Institution analysis indicated that as of August 12, 123 candidates endorsed or recommended by DSA chapters had won primaries in the current election cycle, primarily for local and state offices. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's victory is cited as a key example of this trend.
Describing the DSA as "anti-American" and "anti-Constitution," Crank alleged that its members are often hostile to free speech and have exhibited anti-Semitic rhetoric, particularly in their advocacy concerning Israel following the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks. He characterized the DSA as a combination of traditional socialism and anti-Semitism, leading to violence and intimidation.
As an example of disruption, the resolution references an incident in February where San Francisco DSA members protested a news conference held by Mayor Daniel Lurie, a Jewish official. During the protest, chants of "Tax the rich" were heard, and a woman separately shouted "tax the Jews," though she was reportedly not affiliated with the DSA.
The resolution also targets specific policy positions within the DSA's national program. It calls for the passage of the SAVE Act, which would mandate proof of U.S. citizenship for federal election registration, and highlights the DSA's support for extending voting rights to noncitizens. The DSA program advocates for voting rights for all permanent U.S. residents, incarcerated individuals, and those with criminal convictions. Furthermore, the program includes proposals to abolish the Senate and replace the Supreme Court with a judiciary subordinate to Congress.
Crank also criticized the DSA's opposition to capitalism, citing what he described as repeated failures of socialism both domestically and internationally. He expressed irony in individuals who emigrated from socialist countries now seeking to impose such systems in the U.S.
Mamdani's approach to taxation, specifically a pied-à-terre tax, was labeled by Crank as a manifestation of socialism's shortcomings. Crank argued that such policies, like taxing owners of large homes in New York, can lead to residents leaving the city.
The resolution also draws parallels between modern Democratic socialists and historical communist regimes, such as those under Mao Zedong and Joseph Stalin, attributing over 100 million deaths worldwide to socialist policies. Crank also referenced comments made by Melat Kiros, a DSA member who won a Colorado primary, regarding the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Kiros had suggested that the attacks were an "inevitable consequence" of U.S. destabilization in the Middle East, emphasizing the need to address conditions that lead to violence.
Crank's resolution is scheduled for consideration by the House Rules Committee, with a vote anticipated the following week.