Democratic Socialists of America pulls AOC endorsement – Washington Examiner

The Democratic Socialists of America, a prominent liberal group, is rescinding its national endorsement of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) because the congresswoman didn’t fulfill the organization’s criteria in its initial “conditional” endorsement.

“Earlier this week, the NPC received a request from NYC-DSA SC to withdraw the endorsement because it took place after the New York Democratic Primary, and they did not expect a conditional endorsement or feel it was strategic,” the organization said. “Because we have not seen evidence of AOC meeting these conditions, and at the request of the NYC-DSA SC, the NPC is withdrawing our conditional endorsement of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, although she will remain endorsed by our New York City chapter.”

To receive the DSA’s endorsement, Ocasio-Cortez would have to:

  • Publicly oppose all funding to Israel, including the Iron Dome
  • Participate regularly in the DSA Federal Socialists in Office Committee,
  • Publicly oppose all criminalization of anti-Zionism, such as bills advancing the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition, which conflates criticism of Israel with anti-semitism
  • Publicly support Boycott, Divest, and Sanction to end Israeli settler colonialism

The DSA cited that several of its members expressed concern that “AOC demonstrate a higher level of commitment to Palestinian liberation, self-determination, and the immediate end to the heinous genocide in Gaza committed by Israel that aligns with DSA’s positions and expectations of socialists in office.”

Members of the organization also took concern with “her votes, including a vote in favor of H.Res.888, conflating opposition to Israel’s ‘right to exist’ with antisemitism.” Ocasio-Cortez also co-signed a press release on April 20, 2024, that “support[s] strengthening the Iron Dome and other defense systems.”

The main concern of the DSA with Ocasio-Cortez was her participation in a public panel with leaders from the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. The organization said, “She conflated anti-Zionism with antisemitism and condemned boycotting Zionist institutions” during the panel.

“This sponsorship is a deep betrayal to all those who’ve risked their welfare to fight Israeli apartheid and genocide through political and direct action in recent months and in decades past,” it said.

The organization has only 10 listed current endorsements for this election cycle, none of which are national candidates.

“A national DSA endorsement comes with a serious commitment to the movement for Palestine and our collective socialist project,” the DSA said.

Ocasio-Cortez was one of the first female members of the DSA ever to be elected to Congress.

“We must endorse candidates who enthusiastically seek a relationship with DSA, and the National Political Committee, as the highest body of the organization between conventions, is responsible for setting the criteria we establish for national endorsements. Chapters have a responsibility to make this clear to their endorsed candidates when applying for a national endorsement,” the organization said. “The NPC is committed to ensuring that all of our elected officials are unabashed in their support for Palestinian freedom. To build a socialist movement that’s capable of defeating capitalism, we must demand more from leaders in our movement.”

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Ocasio-Cortez is still on the organization’s website homepage and is still endorsed by the DSA’s New York City chapter. She won her 2024 Democratic primary 82.1% to 17.9% and is expected to win by a landslide in the general election.

The Washington Examiner reached out to Ocasio-Cortez’s office and the DSA but did not receive a response.

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