The Democratic Socialists of America plans to release an updated policy platform next week that calls for eliminating the U.S. Senate and restructuring two other branches of government, according to a source familiar with the organization's planning. The DSA, which has seen several of its candidates win primary elections in recent months, would replace the president with an executive chosen by Congress and transform the Supreme Court into a judiciary subordinate to the legislative branch.
The announcement comes as the DSA has been accumulating electoral victories across the country. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who immigrated from Uganda, defeated former Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2025. The organization also backed Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan. In recent months, four DSA-endorsed candidates — Melat Kiros of Colorado, Darializa Avila-Chevalier of New York, Adam Hamawy of New York, and Donavan McKinney of Michigan — each defeated sitting Democratic members of Congress in primary contests.
What the Left Is Saying
DSA supporters argue that the platform reflects growing frustration with what they describe as systemic barriers to democratic participation. The organization describes itself as a "working-class alternative to the Democratic Party." After recent primary victories, the group stated that "only socialism can solve decades of capitalist mismanagement in the US" and said its newly elected leaders would "fight for the working class — not for crumbs."
The DSA's existing platform advocates for policies including a 32-hour work week with no reduction in pay or benefits, Medicare for all, canceling all student loan debt, eliminating cash bail, and universal rent control. On immigration, the group calls for an immediate end to all deportations, free migration between countries without restrictive controls, and extending full voting rights to people with criminal convictions and noncitizens.
Proponents within progressive circles suggest these electoral wins demonstrate growing voter appetite for fundamental policy changes. The DSA's program for 2025-2026 calls for a "new democratic constitution" that would establish civil, political, and democratic rights for all based on proportional representation in what the organization describes as a "single federal legislature."
What the Right Is Saying
Critics of the DSA platform have raised concerns about its implications for American governance. The source article quoted an expert who fled Cuba warning of what they described as a pattern that could lead to outcomes unfavorable to U.S. interests.
Conservative commentators have argued that eliminating the Senate would remove a key structural check in the federal system, potentially concentrating power in ways critics contend could undermine protections for smaller states and minority viewpoints. The Senate currently provides equal representation for each state regardless of population under Article I of the Constitution.
Opponents also question whether replacing an elected president with an executive selected by Congress aligns with democratic principles, arguing that direct presidential elections provide accountability to voters. Legal scholars from various perspectives have noted that such changes would require constitutional amendments, a process that demands two-thirds support in both chambers and ratification by three-quarters of states.
What the Numbers Show
The DSA has grown from what was once considered a fringe movement on the Democratic Party's progressive wing to an organization with significant electoral influence. The group counts among its elected officials multiple members of Congress, including Ocasio-Cortez and Tlaib, as well as Mamdani in New York City's mayoral office.
The four primary victories cited represent defeats of incumbent Democrats, suggesting the organization's ability to mobilize voters against establishment party figures within Democratic primaries. The DSA's membership numbers are not publicly disclosed, but the organization has reported growth in recent years based on its public communications.
Constitutional amendments require either two-thirds support from both chambers of Congress or a convention called by two-thirds of state legislatures, followed by ratification from three-quarters of states — currently 38 of 50. No constitutional amendment has been ratified since 1992.
The Bottom Line
The DSA's platform release represents the most comprehensive statement yet of how the organization envisions restructuring American government if it gains sufficient political power to pursue such changes. While these proposals would require constitutional amendments that experts say face significant procedural hurdles, their formal adoption into a major political organization's platform signals where certain segments of the progressive electorate see the country heading.
The organization will officially unveil its updated platform next week. Political observers will be watching whether other prominent Democrats embrace or distance themselves from these proposals as the midterm election cycle continues. Fox News Digital reached out to the DSA for comment on this story but had not received a response at publication time.