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The Caucuses in the Democratic Socialists of America

The Caucuses in the Democratic Socialists of America

Last updated on: September 17, 2026 at 8:22 am by Gene Veith

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The Caucuses in the Democratic Socialists of America 2026-09-17T08:22:15-04:00 Gene Veith

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The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are having a breakout year, getting their candidates elected throughout the country and exerting a powerful influence in the Democratic Party.

The DSA is made up of a number of different caucuses. That is, organized factions within the larger organization.

The Wall Street Journal has published an eye-opening article by Joshua Chaffin entitled Meet the Factions Driving the Democratic Socialists of America. Here they are:

(1) SOCIALIST MAJORITY CAUCUS

The most popular and the most pragmatic faction, interested in influencing Democrats, winning elections, and implementing progressive policies. Says Chaffin, “the SMC call themselves ‘materialists’—more interested in changing real-world policies and conditions than ideological perfection.”

(2) GROUNDWORK

Like the SMC, but more fixated on climate issues. This caucus wants to turn the DSA into a national political party. (Right now, it isn’t a party as such, which allows it to infiltrate the Democrats.)

(3) NORTH STAR

Priority is to get rid of Trump and Republican control of Congress. Towards that end, willing to work with conventional Democrats.

(4) BREAD & ROSES

Older style Marxists focused on building the labor movement by organizing workers and infiltrating the various unions. “B&R doesn’t display the electoral pragmatism of SCM and Groundwork,” says Chaffin. “But it supports so-called class struggle elections—that is, running socialist candidates as a means to boost class consciousness and promote the cause.”

(5) COMMUNIST CAUCUS

Younger members with what Chaffin calls a “down-and-dirty vibe.” They care little for conventional politics, devoting themselves instead to grassroot organization designed to help bring on the revolution. Chaffin quotes one of their statements: “We have nothing but our bodies and minds, and we are forced to put them to work. We are compelled to carry out unfulfilling jobs, work long hours, piece together dangerous hustles, or else suffer precarity and deprivation. In short, our lives are dominated by capitalism.”

(6) MARXIST UNITY GROUP

Known as the “theory bros,” this faction focuses on academic theory and Marxist orthodoxy. They made their mark on the DSA with their revision of the U.S. Constitution, which, among other things, abolishes the Senate and the Presidency.

(7) SPRINGS OF REVOLUTION

This faction is fixated on opposing Israel. Their leaders were involved in the student encampment movement supporting the Palestinians on university campuses. They made a big mark on the DSA as a whole by passing a resolution expelling from membership anyone who supports “Zionism” or so much as criticizes the BDS movement (boycotting, divesting of stock in pro-Israel companies, and sanctioning Israel).

(8) RED STAR

An overtly Marxist-Leninist group. It seeks to turn the DSA into a vanguard of the revolution. Says Chaffin, “Red Star’s anti-imperialist streak has translated to an embrace of authoritarian, anti-American regimes in Havana and Caracas and support for Hamas.”

(9) LIBERATION CAUCUS

This group is overtly Maoist. As in Red Guard Maoism. Their website addresses “common misconceptions about Maoism.”

(10) CARACOL CAUCUS

These are “Eco-Marxists.” They promote the necessity of “de-growth” to save the planet and heal society.

In addition, Wikipedia lists three newer, smaller caucuses:

(11) CARNATION

A Marxist group working to turn the DSA into an independent political party.

(12) REFORM & REVOLUTION

A Trotskyite group

(13) LIBERTARIAN SOCIALIST CONFERENCE

An anarchist group favoring decentralized, local policies as opposed to than statist politics.

Notice that of these thirteen caucuses, eight are overtly and openly Marxist. And of those, at least five are Marxist in the Cold war Soviet or Maoist vein. Two caucuses represent other kinds of radicalism, namely, Islamism and Anarchism.

The list of caucus affiliation of the DSA’s 27-member leadership board, the National Political Committee, differs in the Wall Street Journal article and the Wikipedia article. The former gave the affiliation of only 24 members, so I think the Wikipedia list is more complete. Here that is:

5 belong to Groundwork,

5 belong to Bread & Roses

4 belong to the Socialist Majority

4 belong to Springs of Revolution,

3 belong to the Marxist Unity Group,

3 belong to Red Star,

1 belongs to Carnation,

1 belongs to Reform & Revolution

1 belongs to the Libertarian Socialist Caucus.

So of the leadership, 9 belong to the less ideological caucuses, 16 are one kind or another of Marxists, and 2 are other kinds of radicals (Islamists or Anarchists). This tells us that the DSA leadership is dominated, two-to-one, by its radicals.

Photo by David Shankbone – Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16542360

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