House Condemns Socialism in Divided Vote
The House passed a resolution on Friday morning that condemned the “horror of socialism,” resulting in a divided vote among Democrats. Lawmakers voted 285-98 in favor of the bill introduced by Republican Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar from Florida, whose family is comprised of Cuban exiles. The resolution denounces “all forms” of socialism and socialist policies in the U.S. Surprisingly, over 70 Democrats, including some leadership members, backed the resolution.
However, not everyone was in agreement. New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who is often seen as a prominent figure on the left side of the Democratic Party, voiced her opposition to the bill. Additionally, two Democrats, Representative Deborah Ross from North Carolina and Representative Janelle Bynum from Oregon, chose to vote “present” rather than take a definitive stance.
This vote occurs against a backdrop of increasing support for socialist policies in the U.S., notably marked by recent mayoral elections in New York City and Seattle where candidates identifying as socialists emerged victorious.
One of the newly elected mayors, Zoran Mamdani of New York City, has proposed ambitious changes such as raising the minimum wage to $30, establishing government-run grocery stores, and making city buses free. Interestingly, Mamdani sidestepped a question about funding for the free bus rides, especially given the hesitance from Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul to impose new taxes.
A recent Gallup poll revealed a notable trend: a larger portion of Democrats favor socialism over capitalism, with 66% expressing a positive view of socialism compared to just 44% who hold a favorable opinion of capitalism.
Criticism aimed at Democratic lawmakers opposing the resolution came from Republicans. Salazar’s parents, who fled Cuba during Fidel Castro’s regime, noted, “There is nothing ‘controversial’ in condemning a harmful, failed, and deadly ideology.” Salazar herself has emphatically stated, “Socialism will never take root in America, not while I’m here to stop it.”
On the other hand, Democrats, led by California Rep. Maxine Waters, criticized the resolution as a distraction, urging the House to focus on pressing issues like rising costs for American families.
The varied views among Democrats illustrate that socialism remains a politically delicate subject outside of liberal strongholds. In fact, several House Democrats running for Senate in the upcoming midterm elections supported the resolution condemning socialist policies.
Senators Chris Pappas of New Hampshire, Haley Stevens of Michigan, and Angie Craig of Minnesota all voted “yes.” Meanwhile, House Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who sponsored the resolution, avoided clarifying his personal views on socialism when pressed and merely stated he would vote as he had in the past. When asked directly if he condemned socialism, he reiterated his previous response, adding, “Listen, as a Democrat, I believe in a country with strong fundamentals and no ceiling.”
Jeffries emphasized the opportunity for success in America when hard work and following the rules come into play, stating, “The floor is strong, but there is no ceiling.” Yet, this claim was somewhat repetitive, and he refrained from addressing his stance on socialism explicitly.
