The Democratic Socialists of America are celebrating recent electoral victories and hoping to build on that momentum. But their newly adopted political platform directly conflicts with key provisions of the U.S. Constitution, raising a fundamental question: Can any committed democratic socialist honestly take the oath of office?
Article VI of the Constitution requires all members of Congress, executive officers, and judicial officials to swear or affirm they will support the Constitution. The current oath, unchanged since 1966, demands that officeholders “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic” and “bear true faith and allegiance to the same,” without “any mental reservation or purpose of evasion.”
The DSA platform, however, proposes sweeping changes that go far beyond traditional amendments. Among its key planks: “Abolish the Electoral College. Replace the President and Supreme Court with an executive and judiciary chosen by and subordinate to Congress.” It also calls for expanding the House, implementing proportional representation and ranked-choice voting, and abolishing the Senate entirely.
These proposals would effectively eliminate Articles II and III of the Constitution, which establish the executive and judicial branches, and gut Article I by removing the Senate. Article V explicitly states that no state can be deprived of equal representation in the Senate without its consent, even through a constitutional amendment.
Merrill Matthews, Texas state chair of Our Republican Legacy, argues that supporting such a platform makes it impossible for any candidate to truthfully swear to defend the Constitution. “To take the oath would be to commit perjury,” he writes. He notes that while the House and Senate can exclude members-elect by majority vote, that is unlikely to happen.
Matthews suggests that voters, the media, and other lawmakers should hold Democratic Socialists accountable by demanding they explain how undermining the Constitution counts as defending it. The GOP is already planning to weaponize this issue in the 2026 midterms, as Republicans plan to target Democratic Socialists in key races.
Meanwhile, Democrats have pushed back against fears of a socialist takeover. In a recent statement, party leaders rejected claims that socialists are taking over, emphasizing that the party remains committed to constitutional governance.
The DSA's rise has also fueled speculation about the 2028 presidential race. A recent New Hampshire poll showed Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez leading the Democratic field, a sign that progressive energy remains strong.
Despite the constitutional concerns, Democratic Socialists elected to office will likely take the oath anyway. Whether they can do so in good faith remains an open question—and a potential flashpoint in the coming election cycles.
