House Representative Josh Gottheimer warned that the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) do not align with the Democratic Party and urged the group to consider forming a separate party.
He characterized the DSA platform as fundamentally incompatible with Democratic values, describing it as communist, anti‑American, and opposed to border enforcement.
Gottheimer cited footage from a recent DSA convention where participants called for removing ICE from campuses and claimed their agenda represented “the most American thing” they could do.
He highlighted the disparity between roughly 45 million registered Democrats and about 150,000 DSA members, asserting that the latter are not welcome within the Democratic Party.
Addressing colleagues who have expressed openness to DSA‑aligned candidates, Gottheimer argued that fringe coalitions are attempting to infiltrate both major parties with ideas that conflict with mainstream leadership.
He referenced remarks from long‑time party figures who said they would distance themselves from the party if a left‑wing streamer were allowed to assume a leadership role, reinforcing his view that such individuals are not Democrats.
Gottheimer reaffirmed his intention to remain in the Democratic Party, contrasting his stance with a New Jersey representative who switched parties during the previous administration.
His congressional district includes affluent New York‑city suburbs west of the George Washington Bridge as well as the heavily Republican Skylands region, making it one of the most politically diverse districts in the state.
