The Democratic Socialists of America has been remarkably candid about its destination. Its National Electoral Commission says electoral organizing helps build working-class political power “in order to win socialism.” DSA candidates are using the Democratic Party ballot line. That presents Democrats with this important question: Is the party openly providing the electoral infrastructure through which an organized socialist movement can accumulate political power?

Current law protects peaceful political organization and electoral advocacy. Yet Americans should understand what is happening before them. Socialism does not need to storm Washington when voters can be persuaded to carry it through the front door.

Federal law already recognizes a boundary between political advocacy and revolutionary activity. The Smith Act, 18 U.S.C. §2385, criminalizes certain advocacy and organization involving overthrow or destruction of government by force or violence. Supreme Court precedent protects abstract political advocacy unless it is directed toward producing imminent lawless action and likely to produce such action. Consequently, organizing voters to peacefully elect socialists is protected political activity.

That raises a different and increasingly relevant question: Is it time for America to examine whether movements seeking to replace essential characteristics of our constitutional republic should be able to accomplish peacefully through the ballot what they could never lawfully accomplish through force?

The Constitution itself provides an intriguing foundation for that discussion. Article IV requires the United States to guarantee every state a “Republican Form of Government.” Article V permits sweeping constitutional amendments while prohibiting a state from being deprived of equal Senate representation without its consent. The Founders therefore understood that political processes themselves required boundaries.

What happens if Americans someday elect leaders committed to wielding enough power to undermine the Constitutional Republic? The question reaches far beyond Democrats, Republicans or DSA. It concerns whether a constitutional republic possesses sufficient safeguards against its own lawful dismantling. Until that debate occurs, the greatest safeguard remains “We the People.”

Americans determine who receives political power, and every election carries consequences. Freedom-loving Americans should examine candidates, their endorsements, affiliated organizations, financial supporters and stated political objectives. Then they must register, show up and vote.

A constitutional republic ultimately depends upon citizens who understand what they possess and recognize movements seeking to fundamentally change it. Political freedom even gives people tremendous latitude to make choices that may diminish future freedom. That makes responsible citizenship more important than ever.

Proverbs 29:2 says, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.”

America still places tremendous power in the hands of its citizens. Freedom still has a vote. Use it.

Sources

Democratic Socialists of America, National Electoral Commission, Bylaws
https://electoral.dsausa.org/bylaws/

Democratic Socialists of America, National Electoral Commission
https://electoral.dsausa.org/

Democratic Socialists of America, Constitution and Bylaws
https://www.dsausa.org/about-us/constitution/

Democratic Socialists of America, 2021 National Convention Resolutions & Constitutional Amendments
https://convention2021.dsausa.org/

U.S. Constitution, Article IV, Section 4 (Guarantee Clause), Constitution Annotated, Library of Congress
https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artIV-S4-2/ALDE_00013636/ (Congress.gov)

U.S. Constitution, Article V, Constitution Annotated, Library of Congress
https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/article-5/

18 U.S. Code § 2385, Advocating Overthrow of Government (Smith Act)
https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:18%20section:2385%20edition:prelim)

Brandenburg v. Ohio, 395 U.S. 444 (1969), Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/395/444 (Legal Information Institute)

Luther v. Borden, 48 U.S. (7 How.) 1 (1849), Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/48/1

Constitution Annotated, Incitement Current Doctrine (First Amendment), Library of Congress
https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/amdt1-7-5-4/ALDE_00013805/ (Congress.gov)

Something significant is happening inside the Democratic Party, and Americans who cherish liberty should pay attention. A CNN/SSRS poll conducted July 23-27 found about one-third of Democrats and Democratic-leaning adults now identify as democratic socialists. CNN reported 66 percent say they are extremely motivated to vote this year, compared with 57 percent of other Democratic-aligned voters. Democratic socialist candidates have defeated established Democrats in congressional primaries. Another recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found 71 percent of Democrats identifying as liberal. Taken together, the numbers indicate socialism is gaining legitimacy, organization and electoral power in the Democratic Party.

Running alongside that socialist movement is another disturbing trend: growing hostility toward Israel. CNN’s polling found 48 percent said they would be enthusiastic about such a candidate that stands against Israel, compared with 20 percent of other Democratic-aligned voters. CNN separately reported that the newly created American Priorities super PAC spent at least $5.6 million supporting Democratic candidates fiercely critical of Israel and AIPAC, helping democratic socialists win congressional primaries. Several successful socialist-aligned candidates share strong criticism of Israel and support ending American military aid.

History teaches that political hostility toward Israel and the Jewish people can become something far darker when ideological movements begin identifying them as obstacles to their political objectives.

Fascism and communism wear different ideological labels, but when imposed as systems of government, they can travel remarkably similar totalitarian roads. Both concentrate enormous power in the state, subordinate individual liberty to political objectives, suppress dissent and place government authority above institutions that might challenge it.

Nazi Germany and Stalin’s Soviet Union demonstrated how deadly that concentration of power could become, particularly for Jews, Christians and others the state identified as obstacles or enemies. Hitler’s regime murdered six million Jews. Under Stalin, Jewish institutions and religious practice faced persecution, churches were closed or confiscated, believers and clergy were imprisoned, and atheism was promoted by the state. That is where these trends converge into a warning for America.

A growing socialist political movement increasingly hostile toward Israel, coupled with an ideology demanding greater government control over economic and social life, and the abolishing of religion, presents a clear and present danger to all true Americans. Socialism and communism historically replace private initiative and God-given rights with government authority. Concentrated government power has repeatedly brought repression, poverty, persecution and death in its wake.

Americans still possess powerful defenses against that road: our voices, our ballots, our constitutional rights and our faith. Failing to use those voices and ballots while history waves warning flags before us is, say it with me, Stupidocrisy.

Ephesians 6:13 says, “and having done all, to stand.” We must stand.

Sources

CNN, “A third of Democrats now identify as democratic socialists”

CNN/SSRS July 2026 Poll, full questionnaire and results

CNN, “How a new super PAC formed to counter AIPAC is fueling democratic socialists’ wins”

Breitbart, “One-Third of Democrats Identify as Democrat Socialists”

U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Introduction to the Holocaust

Library of Congress, Soviet Archives: Anti-Religious Campaigns