Is the Modern Democratic Party Now the Socialist Party of America?
By Hondo
Is the Democrat Party now the Socialist Party in America?
Yes, the Democratic Party has largely adopted Socialist ideologies and policies. Here is the TLDR:
The party's shift towards socialist and Socialist principles is evident in its support for expansive government control, redistribution of wealth, and the promotion of collective ownership.
Key figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders identify as the Democratic Socialist Party of America (DSA) and openly advocate for Socialist policies, such as Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, and free college tuition, which align with Communist ideals of state-controlled economies and centralized power.
Moreover, the party's increasing focus on identity politics, censorship, and the suppression of free speech mirrors the authoritarian tendencies of Communist regimes.
The push for equity over equality, the demonization of capitalism, and the advocacy for government intervention in virtually al aspects of society further underscore the Democratic Party's alignment with Communist ideologies.
This shift has led many traditional Democrats to leave the party, opting instead for independent or Republican affiliations, as they reject the far left turn the party has taken.
Recent polls state that two of the top three most favorable politicians of the Democrat party in March 2025 are Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Bernie Sanders who are self-described Socialists. That’s a major shift in Democratic Party politics.
Photo by Matt Johnson via CCL2.0
Modern American Democratic Principles
The Democratic Party has increasingly advocated for larger, more intrusive government control over various aspects of society. This includes expanded regulatory powers, increased surveillance, and greater government intervention in private industries.
The party supports policies that centralize power, such as extensive environmental regulations, healthcare mandates, and strict labor laws. This approach aligns with socialist principles that prioritize state control over individual freedoms.
Proponents say the USA should operate under the control of Democratically elected European style Socialist politicians.
Democrats have championed policies aimed at redistributing wealth from the wealthy to the lower and middle classes. This includes progressive taxation, where higher-income individuals and corporations are taxed at higher rates, and expansive social welfare programs.
Initiatives like universal basic income, free education, and universal healthcare are designed to reduce economic inequality by transferring resources from the wealthy to those with lesser means. This redistributive approach is a core tenet of socialism, which seeks to minimize economic disparities through government intervention.
The party has shown support for policies that promote collective ownership and control over key industries and resources. This includes advocating for public ownership of utilities, such as water and electricity, and supporting worker cooperatives and collective bargaining rights.
Democrats often propose regulations that limit corporate power and promote shared ownership models, such as employee-owned businesses. This focus on collective ownership reflects communist principles that prioritize communal control over private property rights.
Democrat Leaders and Socialist Principles
There is a very clear correlation between the ideological principles of Karl Marx or Marxism and the policies promoted by figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders.
Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Bernie Sanders clearly adhere to the traditional definition of communism. Communism refers to a far-left ideology, whose adherents support a state-controlled economy, complete collectivization, the abolition of private enterprise, and the overtly goal of overthrowing or infiltrating the political system of every capitalist country.
The collective control, centralized cut of goods and services that Marxism calls for is exactly what Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders want.
Sanders often says he is not a capitalist. Proudly engaging in this action is a form of communism. The specific policy proposals of Medicare for All, for example, would eliminate the private healthcare industry and move to a state-controlled model. This directly mirrors Marxist ideologies where the state has authority over the healthcare system.
Free college would also nationalize and centralize education, and the Green New Deal is said to eliminate private enterprise by overly regulating entire industries which promotes a state-controlled economy and directly mirrors marxist tenets.
It is undeniable that Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders align with the fundamental ideas of Marxism and the innate control of the economy that is at the heart of communism.
Socialist and Authoritarian Principles
The Democratic Party mirrors the authoritarian tendencies of communist regimes. Both systems heavily rely on ideological control and propaganda, utilizing identity politics to divide and control the populace. By promoting group identities over individual rights, they create a framework where dissenting opinions are labeled as hate speech or bigotry.
Censorship is a cornerstone of communist regimes, ensuring that only state-approved narratives are disseminated. Similarly, the Democratic Party's increasing push for censorship, particularly in tech and media domains, aligns with this authoritarian approach. This is evident in their support for deplatforming conservative voices, labeling alternative viewpoints as "misinformation," and advocating for stricter control over social media platforms.
The suppression of free speech is fundamental to maintaining power in communist regimes. The Democratic Party's recent actions, such as advocating for expansive hate speech laws, creating "disinformation governance boards," and promoting cancel culture, exemplify a similar authoritarian bent. These measures not only stifle open debate but also create a chilling effect, discouraging individuals from expressing unpopular opinions.
Both communist regimes and the modern Democratic Party utilize the education system and cultural institutions to indoctrinate rather than educate. The emphasis on critical race theory and other ideologically driven curricula aims to shape young minds according to a specific political agenda.
Government Intervention
The Democratic Party’s push for equity over equality, the demonization of capitalism, and the advocacy for government intervention in virtually all aspects of society underscore the Democratic Party's alignment with communist ideologies.
Equity, as defined by the left, means enforcing equal outcomes rather than equal opportunities, which requires redistributing resources and advantages to disadvantaged groups. This redistribution echoes the communist principle of "from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs."
The demonization of capitalism is another hallmark of communist ideology, which views capitalism as an exploitative system that concentrates wealth in the hands of a few while oppressing the working class.
Similarly, the Democrats' push for expansive government intervention reflects the communist belief in a centralized, all-powerful state that controls the economy and many aspects of individual lives to ensure social justice and equality.
Each of these positions—pushing for equity, criticizing capitalism, and advocating for extensive government control—aligns with core communist principles, indicating a strong ideological overlap between the Democratic Party and communist ideologies.
Democrat Party Exodus
Many Democrats, seeing this, have left the Democrat party to be either Independents or Republicans.
Tulsi Gabbard
Background: Former U.S. Representative from Hawaii (2013–2021) and a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate.
Departure: Announced on October 11, 2022, that she was leaving the Democratic Party, citing its shift toward "an elitist cabal of warmongers" and "woke" ideology. She became an independent and later endorsed Republican candidates, eventually joining the Republican Party in 2024.
Joe Manchin
Background: U.S. Senator from West Virginia (2010–2025), a moderate Democrat.
Departure: On May 31, 2024, Manchin announced he was leaving the Democratic Party to register as an independent, though he did not fully align with another party. His decision was driven by frustration with the party’s direction and polarization in Washington.
Kyrsten Sinema
Background: U.S. Senator from Arizona (2019–present), previously a Democratic U.S. Representative (2013–2019).
Departure: In December 2022, Sinema left the Democratic Party to become an independent, citing a desire to work outside partisan constraints. She had already distanced herself from the party by opposing some progressive policies.
Jeff Van Drew
Background: U.S. Representative from New Jersey (2019–present).
Departure: Switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party in December 2019, just before 2020, but his shift became prominent during the 2020 term. His decision was largely due to disagreement with the impeachment of Donald Trump. Included here as it aligns with post-2020 political shifts.
Tricia Cotham
Background: North Carolina State Representative.
Departure: In April 2023, Cotham switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party, giving Republicans a supermajority in the North Carolina House. She cited feeling alienated by the Democratic Party’s expectations and policies.
Megan Hunt
Background: Nebraska State Senator.
Departure: In May 2023, Hunt left the Democratic Party to become an independent, though she had previously been a Republican and Libertarian. Her departure was motivated by dissatisfaction with both major parties’ handling of social issues.
Vernon Jones
Background: Former Georgia State Representative and 2022 congressional candidate.
Departure: A lifelong Democrat, Jones left the party in January 2021 after supporting Donald Trump in 2020. He later ran as a Republican for Congress in Georgia.
Brittney Barreras
Background: New Mexico State Representative.
Departure: In 2020, Barreras switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party, citing a misalignment with the Democrats’ direction on economic and social issues.
Sophia Warren
Background: Maine State Representative.
Departure: In 2022, Warren left the Democratic Party to become an independent, frustrated with partisan gridlock and the party’s stance on certain policies.
Roy Daryl Adams
Background: Louisiana State Representative.
Departure: In 2023, Adams switched from the Democratic Party to become an independent, reflecting a trend of Southern Democrats reevaluating their affiliation.
This list includes individuals who explicitly left the Democratic Party (e.g., changed registration or publicly disavowed it) since 2020. Some, like Van Drew, made the switch just before 2020 but are included due to their prominence in the post-2020 political landscape.
Other figures, such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have been mentioned in discussions (e.g., on X) as distancing themselves from the Democrats, but RFK Jr. did not formally leave until he ran as an independent in 2024, and his shift is more nuanced as he never fully disavowed his Democratic roots until then.
Some individuals, like Elon Musk, are not included as they were not formal Democratic Party members or elected officials, despite past voting affiliations.
So, has the Democratic party become the Democratic Socialist Party of America (DSA)? Yes, and the two most prominent figures in the Democratic Party admit to it. Cortez and Sanders are proud Socialists.