The Democratic Socialists of America's 2025-2026 platform is no secret. It's posted online, formally adopted by the national committee, and has been covered by outlets like Fox News and the Washington Examiner. Under the heading "A Real Democracy," it calls for eliminating the Electoral College, the Senate, the presidency, and the Supreme Court, replacing them with an executive and judiciary "chosen by and subordinate to Congress," and a single proportional chamber. The preamble is explicit: a new constitution, a "democratic socialist republic." Co-chair Ashik Siddique has publicly defended the Senate plank, calling the chamber "a very undemocratic institution."
Yet once the platform meets actual voters, it tends to disappear. DSA rules require endorsed candidates to back these structural changes, but this summer, several endorsed candidates went quiet on the radical provisions when reporters asked. The platform isn't hidden, but it's rarely mentioned on the campaign trail. A candidate can shrug, say it's not their focus, and keep the endorsement.
Siddique himself summed it up: organizers aren't knocking on doors asking about abolishing the Senate "this year." That phrase—"this year"—is the trick. It's a way to keep the long-term goal alive while avoiding the immediate political cost.
Michigan's 7th District offers a clear example. Will Lawrence, a socialist and Sunrise Movement co-founder endorsed by Bernie Sanders, won a competitive primary in August running on this platform. Within a month, he let his DSA membership lapse. Asked if it was tied to the general election, he said no, claiming he wanted to represent all constituents. He declined to say where he differs from DSA policy.
Lawrence didn't renounce the platform or get expelled. Under DSA bylaws, unpaid dues aren't grounds for expulsion—only saying something like "Israel has a right to defend itself" would get you kicked out. So he simply stopped paying dues, kept Sanders' endorsement and socialist support, but dropped the label.
This isn't unique to Lawrence. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ro Khanna have also tried to distance themselves, acting as if they've never heard of DSA. The pattern is consistent: candidates accept the endorsement, avoid the platform, and if pressed, quietly let membership lapse.
Voters and journalists should press every DSA-backed candidate on these issues. Do they support abolishing the Senate, the presidency, and the Supreme Court? Do they back replacing the Constitution with a "democratic socialist republic"? These are fair questions that deserve straight answers.
The DSA's platform may be extreme, but the real danger is the way it's laundered through political campaigns. As debates over institutional reform continue, the strategy of hiding radical goals behind vague talk of "democracy" deserves scrutiny.
The next time a candidate with DSA backing talks about rent or healthcare, ask about the Senate. See how long it takes to get a real answer.
