DSA Platform Splits Democrats: What It Means for 2026 Primaries

The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) released a platform this month that proposes 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 document, titled Workers Deserve More, has become a rallying point for Republican attacks and a flashpoint inside the Democratic Party as the 2026 midterm primaries unfold.

House Speaker Mike Johnson wrote on X that "the barbarians are inside the gate — and Democrats are WELCOMING them in. Communism is no longer a far fetched threat. It is here on our SHORES!" The Wall Street Journal's conservative-leaning editorial board called the agenda radical and said the job of Republicans and willing Democrats is to educate the country about it. But the board also cautioned Republicans against communism attack lines, arguing they would not resonate with younger generations.

The DSA platform does not necessarily line up exactly with the candidates' own agendas. Progressive and democratic socialist candidates have garnered victories across the country during the 2026 midterm primary election cycle, including several in New York. Yet those candidates do not all subscribe to the full DSA platform.

Establishment vs. Insurgents

DSA national co-chair Megan Romer appeared on Fox News Sunday and told host Shannon Bream that "the establishment Democrats should be worried about the voters." Romer said that "right now they have not been delivering, and our candidates are and have been, and it's resonating with voters."

Former Democratic National Committee chair Jaime Harrison pushed back, saying candidates who hate the Democratic Party but run as Democrats should not "run for our nomination … use our resources … rely on our volunteers … use our infrastructure" and should focus "on building the party you actually support."

Romer dismissed Harrison's remarks, arguing that both major parties created "a system where ballot line access is extremely difficult for third parties." She added, "I also have been told a lot of times by Democrats, don't vote third party. It's wasting your vote. So, we run on the Democratic ballot line where it makes sense. We run independents sometimes where that is a viable possibility, but it's a ballot line. And what matters is what the voters think. And the voters are overwhelmingly choosing our candidates."

What the Platform Actually Says

The DSA platform proposes drafting a new constitution with significant changes to the structure of the U.S. government. Beyond abolishing the Senate and replacing the president and Supreme Court with leaders picked by Congress, it calls for allowing all permanent U.S. residents to vote. The platform also includes a number of social reforms.

The document has become fodder for Republican attacks as the GOP looks to frame Democrats as extremists and communists ahead of November's midterm elections. But the DSA's primary victories suggest the strategy may cut both ways. The group's candidates are winning in Democratic primaries, forcing the party's establishment to confront a base that appears increasingly open to structural changes to American governance.

Primary Season Dynamics

The 2026 midterm primary cycle has already seen progressive and democratic socialist candidates notch wins in multiple states, including New York. These victories come as the DSA's platform generates national attention and Republican condemnation. The question for the Democratic Party is whether the platform helps or hurts the party's general election prospects.

Some establishment Democrats worry that the DSA's more radical proposals — abolishing the Senate, replacing the presidency — will alienate swing voters. Others argue that the party's failure to deliver on economic issues is driving voters toward the DSA's more aggressive agenda. Romer's message to the party is clear: the voters are choosing our candidates because the establishment has not delivered.

For Republicans, the DSA platform provides a ready-made attack line. But the Wall Street Journal editorial board's warning — that communism attack lines won't work with younger voters — suggests the GOP may need a more nuanced message. The DSA's platform is radical, but it is not communist. And the candidates who win primaries under the DSA banner do not necessarily embrace every plank of the platform.

What Comes Next

The 2026 midterm primaries are still underway, and the DSA's influence will be tested in more races. The party's internal divisions are likely to deepen as the general election approaches. The DSA's platform has split Democrats, but it has also energized a base that feels the party has not delivered.

The question for the Democratic establishment is whether to embrace the DSA's energy or fight it. Harrison's comments suggest a fight. Romer's response suggests the DSA is not going anywhere. The voters, she says, are on their side.