The Democrats are socialists. It's not a "conspiracy theory."
After decades of unpersuasive denials that the Democrat Party, of course, isn't socialist, we get a reminder from a Republican senator about a "pledge" that recently circulated the House of Representatives.
The "Democrat Party" might as well have announced itself as synonymous with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN) recently appeared on The Scott Jennings Show on the Salem News Channel. He explained the significance of the "pledge," which only 10 of 212 Democratic House members signed.
There are 212 Democrats in the US House of Representatives.
— Senator Jim Banks (@SenatorBanks) August 11, 2026
Recently, a pledge was circulated to House Democrats reading: "We are capitalist, not socialist."
Only 10 of the 212 signed it.
This tells you everything you need to know. The DSA has taken over the Democratic Party. pic.twitter.com/eC8kD04i0E
"There are 212 Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives," Banks said on X. "Recently, a pledge was circulated to House Democrats reading, "We are capitalist, not socialist." Only 10 of the 212 signed it. This tells you everything you need to know. The DSA has taken over the Democratic Party."
The pledge that Sen. Banks references is not new, but it has taken on new significance in light of the surge of DSA-aligned candidates in the Democrat Party. Newsweek reported on it in late June.
A group of Democrats have rebuked the party’s most progressive wing, signing onto a new centrist initiative called “Promise to America” which vows to “reject” socialism and back strong borders, capitalism, and patriotism.
The pledge to U.S. voters to fight “extremes” on both the left and right, released on Friday, comes after a streak of victories for Democratic Socialists of America’s candidates in primaries in New York, which prompted a vitriolic attack from President Donald Trump.
Seizing on the wins reported by all three candidates backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday, Trump stoked fears that the Democratic Party has been taken over by “godless communists” threatening the “traditional American way of life.”
The pledge was circulated by centrist Democrats as a "Promise to America." Here are some of its key points:
- We are capitalist, not socialist.
- We want safety, not lawlessness.
- We are responsible, not reckless.
- We believe government should solve problems, not create them.
- We are mainstream, not extreme.
- We are proud, not ashamed of America.
That's about as mainstream as it gets. And yet, the overwhelming majority of the radical Democrat House members refused to sign onto it. Only about ten Democrats signed it.
READ MORE: Milwaukee's USB Debacle Is Exactly Why Americans Don't Trust Elections
Highlighting the Democrats' refusal to sign the pledge is also significant given the signs that DSA-aligned candidates are doing better in public opinion polls than in actual elections.
Polling had El-Sayed up by 12%
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) August 12, 2026
He only won the election by 1%
Polling had Hong up by 22%
She lost the election by 1%
Polls are vastly overestimating the left
This is particularly true for statewide races, given that DSA-backed Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong recently lost her primary bid, and Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed narrowly prevailed against his rival primary candidate, Rep. Haley Stevens (MI-11).
It is also fascinating given the makeover being given to hard-left Democrat congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14). She is pivoting so hard to a "moderate Democrat" that it is giving people whiplash.
AOC vocally opposed this "Promise to America," as Newsweek noted.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York bashed a new centrist initiative launched by a group of House Democrats and candidates to reject socialism within the party, accusing them of being unclear about what they actually stand for.
"All these election officials came together and said, ‘We’re going to sign a pledge against socialism.’ And we say, ‘Okay,’" Ocasio-Cortez told radio host Santita Jackson during an interview for her show "Keep Hope Alive" published on Sunday.
"‘Okay fine, if you’re against them that’s okay. But what do you believe?’ And that I think it’s the core of the weaknesses from that wing at this moment," the New York Democrat added. "There’s no affirmative vision really coming from most places in the Democratic Party with the exception of democratic socialism."
So much for AOC's "pivot to the middle." Her rejection of the centrist pledge was less than two months ago.
Editor’s Note: Every single day, here at RedState, we will stand up and FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT against the radical Left and deliver the conservative reporting our readers deserve.
Help us continue to tell the truth about the Trump administration and its successes. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member