Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has rejoined the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Her annual membership expired in 2019, and she did not renew it until now.
“Democratic Socialists of America confirms Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a member in good standing of our organization, having recently rejoined in August 2026,” the organization announced in a statement to DSA members and shared with City & State New York. “Previously, the representative joined DSA in 2018 with a one-year membership, which DSA’s national leadership recently noticed had lapsed, in 2019. She has since renewed her membership as of this month.”
The DSA acknowledged that it shared news of AOC’s membership due to the possibility of her run for president. “While it is atypical for DSA to address the membership status of individuals, ongoing discussions about the 2028 presidential campaign have prompted this release,” the group said, adding, “With chapters and members campaigning to draft Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as a potential Presidential Primary candidate, we believe that the status of her membership is essential information for members to have in their deliberations and discussions.”
AOC’s membership renewal follows the DSA’s Liberation Caucus pushing back on her 2028 presidential run possibility due to her events involving Jewish organizations.
“Liberation condemns Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s continued retreat from socialist politics and rejects any effort to present her as the future presidential standard-bearer for DSA, or for the broader socialist movement. AOC’s record demonstrates a consistent pattern of opportunism,” the Liberation Caucus said in a statement. “In 2024, DSA’s National Political Committee withdrew its conditional endorsement, after NYC-DSA’s steering committee sent a request to that body requesting such. The NPC also determined that AOC erred in sponsoring/hosting a public panel with leaders from the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, a Zionist organization which conflates anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism. She also voted in favor of H.Res 888 (defending Israel’s right to exist) and co-signed a statement supporting strengthening the Iron Dome.”
