The Democratic Socialists of America has gained momentum. After the midterm elections, eight DSA-endorsed candidates won seats in the U.S. House, while dozens more were elected to state legislatures.
But the organization is now facing an investigation in Florida. Republican Attorney General James Uthmeier says his office is examining whether the DSA received money or other support from foreign sources of concern, including the governments of Cuba and China.
In a video statement Tuesday, Uthmeier said his office had subpoenaed the DSA. Investigators are also looking into whether the group has been transparent and complied with the law when raising money from Florida donors.
The inquiry will examine DSA delegations to Cuba and China, including meetings with Cuban government officials, as well as fundraising for travel and related activities involving Florida chapters. Uthmeier said the trips and associated fundraising brought in tens of thousands of dollars.
The DSA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Its communications director, Priscilla Yeverino, later told Florida Politics that the organization was aware of the matter but had no comment at that time.
A Network Contagion Research Institute report published in February called for scrutiny of the DSA’s potential compliance with the Foreign Agents Registration Act. The report cited foreign-facilitated engagements, apparent in-kind benefits, and U.S. political advocacy it said aligned with the interests of the Venezuelan, Cuban, and Chinese governments, all subject to U.S. sanctions.
The report said the DSA had sent at least six delegations to China, Cuba, and Venezuela since 2021. It claimed participants met senior officials, including former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, and received access or other benefits that may not have appeared in public filings.
After a 44-person DSA delegation visited Havana in 2023, the organization called for an end to the U.S. embargo, restored relations with Cuba, and Cuba’s removal from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list. The report also said the DSA’s advocacy on Venezuela echoed the government’s positions, particularly in the period before Maduro was captured nearly a year ago.
The NCRI report further said people affiliated with the DSA echoed Beijing’s policy priorities after a delegation reportedly visited China in September 2025.
“Our laws prohibit accepting contributions from foreign sources of concern,” Uthmeier said, adding that organizations must be truthful and transparent about how they raise and spend money.
His office has requested documents to assess whether the DSA complied with Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act and state laws governing fundraising solicitations.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday that if the DSA was receiving foreign money from communist countries, the state would hold it accountable.
