List of socialist members of the United States Congress

Last updated

The following is a list of members of the United States Congress who have declared themselves to be socialists or have been a member of a socialist organization in the United States.

Contents

Table

As of September 15,2024:

MemberPhotoChamberTerm startTerm endStatePartyRef
Greg Casar Rep. Greg Casar - 118th Congress.jpg HouseJanuary 3, 2023IncumbentTexas Democratic Party (DSA member, former Austin DSA endorsee) [1] [2]
Summer Lee Rep. Summer Lee - 118th Congress.jpg HouseJanuary 3, 2023Incumbent Pennsylvania Democratic Party (former DSA member and former DSA endorsee) [3]
Cori Bush Cori Bush 117th U.S Congress.jpg HouseJanuary 3, 2021January 3, 2025 Missouri Democratic Party (DSA member and endorsee) [4] [5]
Jamaal Bowman Jamaal Bowman 117th U.S Congress.jpg HouseJanuary 3, 2021January 3, 2025New York Democratic Party (DSA member and NYC-DSA endorsee) [6] [7] [8]
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Official Portrait.jpg HouseJanuary 3, 2019IncumbentNew York Democratic Party, Working Families Party (DSA member and former endorsee; NYC-DSA endorsee) [9] [10] [11]
Rashida Tlaib Rashida Tlaib, official portrait, 116th Congress.jpg HouseJanuary 3, 2019Incumbent Michigan Democratic Party (DSA member and endorsee) [9] [12]
Bernie Sanders Bernie Sanders in March 2020.jpg SenateJanuary 3, 2007Incumbent Vermont Independent (Endorsed in Democratic Party primaries, caucuses with Democrats) [13] [14] [15]
Danny Davis DannyKDavis113th.jpg HouseJanuary 3, 1997Incumbent Illinois Democratic Party (former New Party member and DSA member) [a]
Bernie Sanders Bernie Sanders in March 2020.jpg HouseJanuary 3, 1991January 3, 2007 Vermont Independent (won most Democratic Party votes) [13] [14] [15]
Major Owens Major Owens.jpg HouseJanuary 3, 1983January 3, 2007New York Democratic Party (DSA member) [12] [20]
David Bonior David Bonior.jpg HouseJanuary 3, 1977January 3, 2003 Michigan Democratic Party (DSA member) [21] [22]
Ron Dellums Rondellums105th.jpg HouseJanuary 3, 1971February 6, 1998California Democratic Party (DSA member) [12] [23]
John Conyers John Conyers official photo (cropped).jpg HouseJanuary 3, 1965December 5, 2017 Michigan Democratic Party (DSA member) [24]
William H. Meyer William Meyer (Vermont).JPG HouseJanuary 3, 1959January 3, 1961 Vermont Democratic Party (Future Liberty Union Party founder) [25]
George M. Rhodes George M. Rhodes.jpg HouseJanuary 3, 1949January 3, 1969 Pennsylvania Democratic Party (former Socialist Party of America member) [26]
Andrew Biemiller Andrew Biemiller Official Short Crop.png HouseJanuary 3, 1949January 3, 1951 Wisconsin Democratic Party (former Socialist Party of America member) [27]
Leo Isacson Leo Isacson.jpg HouseFebruary 17, 1948January 3, 1949New York American Labor Party [28]
Andrew Biemiller Andrew Biemiller Official Short Crop.png HouseJanuary 3, 1945January 3, 1947 Wisconsin Democratic Party (former Socialist Party of America member) [27]
Hugh De Lacy Hugh De Lacy (3x4).jpg HouseJanuary 3, 1945January 3, 1947Washington Democratic Party (Communist Party USA member) [29]
Bolívar Pagán Bolivar Pagan.jpg HouseDecember 26, 1939January 3, 1945 Puerto Rico Republican Union (Socialist Party member)
Vito Marcantonio Vito Marcantonio.jpg HouseJanuary 3, 1939January 3, 1951New York American Labor Party [28] [30]
Henry Teigan Henry Teigan.jpg HouseJanuary 3, 1937January 3, 1939 Pennsylvania Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party (former Socialist Party of America member) [31]
John Bernard JohnTBernard.jpg HouseJanuary 3, 1937January 3, 1939Minnesota Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party (Future Communist Party USA member) [32] [33]
Jerry J. O'Connell Jerry Joseph O'Connell (Montana Congressman).jpg HouseJanuary 3, 1937January 3, 1939Montana Democratic Party [34]
Jerry Voorhis Jerry Voorhis (portrait)rev.jpg HouseJanuary 3, 1937January 3, 1947 California Democratic Party (former Socialist Party of America member) [35]
Vito Marcantonio Vito Marcantonio.jpg HouseJanuary 3, 1935January 3, 1937New York Republican Party [28] [30]
Santiago Iglesias Santiago Iglesias.jpg HouseMarch 4, 1933December 5, 1939 Puerto Rico Socialist Party
Homer Bone Homer Bone Crop.jpg SenateJanuary 3, 1933November 13, 1944 Washington Democratic Party (former Socialist Party of America member) [36]
Fiorello LaGuardia La Guardia (cropped).png HouseMarch 4, 1927March 3, 1933New York Republican Party (former Socialist Party of America candidate and self-identified socialist) [37]
Fiorello LaGuardia La Guardia (cropped).png HouseMarch 4, 1925March 4, 1927New York Socialist Party of America and Progressive Party [37]
Fiorello LaGuardia La Guardia (cropped).png HouseMarch 4, 1923March 4, 1925New York Republican Party (future Socialist Party of America candidate and self-identified socialist) [37]
Victor Berger Victor L. Berger.jpg HouseMarch 4, 1923March 3, 1929 Wisconsin Socialist Party of America [12]
Meyer London LONDON, MEYER. HONORABLE LCCN2016859895 (cropped).jpg HouseMarch 4, 1921March 3, 1923New York Socialist Party of America [12]
Victor Berger Victor L. Berger.jpg HouseMarch 4, 1919November 10, 1919 Wisconsin Socialist Party of America [12]
Fiorello LaGuardia La Guardia (cropped).png HouseMarch 4, 1917December 31, 1919New York Republican Party (future Socialist Party of America candidate and self-identified socialist) [37]
George Lunn George R. Lunn.jpg HouseMarch 4, 1917March 4, 1919 New York Democratic Party (former Socialist Party of America member) [38]
Meyer London LONDON, MEYER. HONORABLE LCCN2016859895 (cropped).jpg HouseMarch 4, 1915March 3, 1919New York Socialist Party of America [12]
Harry Lane LANE, HARRY. SENATOR LCCN2016858454 (cropped).jpg SenateMarch 4, 1913May 23, 1917 Oregon Democratic Party [39]
Victor Berger Victor L. Berger.jpg HouseMarch 4, 1911March 3, 1913 Wisconsin Socialist Party of America [12]
Freeman Knowles Freeman Knowles (South Dakota).jpg HouseMarch 4, 1897March 3, 1899 South Dakota People's Party (United States) (Future Socialist Party of America Member) [40]
Haldor Boen HaldorBoen.jpg HouseMarch 4, 1893March 3, 1895 Minnesota People's Party (United States) (Future Socialist Party of America Member) [41]
Kittel Halvorson Kittel Halvorson (Minnesota Congressman).jpg HouseMarch 3, 1891March 4, 1893 Minnesota People's Party (United States) (Future Socialist Party of America Member) [42]
Lewis Featherstone HouseMarch 5, 1890March 3, 1891 Arkansas Union Labor Party
Henry Smith HenrySmithLaborPartyCongressmanMilwaukee.png HouseMarch 4, 1887March 3, 1889 Wisconsin Union Labor Party [43]
Horace Greeley Horace Greeley restored.jpg HouseDecember 4, 1848March 3, 1849 New York Whig Party (United States) [44]
Robert Dale Owen Owen-Robert-Dale-1840s.jpg HouseMarch 4, 1843March 3, 1847 Indiana Democratic Party [45]

See also

Endnotes

  1. ↑ Although Davis was endorsed by the New Party [16] and Chicago DSA [17] in 1996, Davis has since moved rightward. Chicago DSA endorsed candidates primarying him from the left in 2020 [18] and 2022. [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernie Sanders</span> American politician and activist (born 1941)

Bernard Sanders is an American politician and activist who is the senior United States senator from Vermont. Sanders is the longest-serving independent in U.S. congressional history, but maintains a close relationship with the Democratic Party, having caucused with House and Senate Democrats for most of his congressional career and sought the party's presidential nomination in 2016 and 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny Davis (Illinois politician)</span> American politician (born 1941)

Daniel K. Davis is an American politician who is the U.S. representative from Illinois's 7th congressional district, elected in 1996. The district serves much of western Chicago, as well as the Loop. It also includes several of Chicago's inner western suburbs, such as Bellwood, Oak Park, and River Forest. Davis is a Democrat, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, and a former member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ron Dellums</span> American politician (1935–2018)

Ronald Vernie Dellums was an American politician who served as Mayor of Oakland from 2007 to 2011. He had previously served thirteen terms as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 9th congressional district, in office from 1971 to 1998, after which he worked as a lobbyist in Washington, D.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Working Families Party</span> Political party in the United States

The Working Families Party (WFP) is a progressive minor political party in the United States, founded in New York in 1998. There are active chapters in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

In U.S. politics, an independent Democrat is an individual who loosely identifies with the ideals of the Democratic Party but chooses not to be a formal member of the party or is denied the Democratic nomination in a caucus or primary election. Independent Democrat is not a political party. Several elected officials, including members of Congress, have identified as independent Democrats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nina Turner</span> American politician from Ohio (born 1967)

Nina Hudson Turner is an American politician, and television personality. A member of the Democratic Party, she was a Cleveland City Council member from 2006 to 2008 and a member of the Ohio Senate from 2008 until 2014. Turner was the Democratic nominee for Ohio Secretary of State in 2014, but lost in the general election against incumbent Jon Husted, receiving 35.5 percent of the vote. A self-described democratic socialist, her politics have been variously described as progressive, left-wing, or far-left.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1990 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont</span>

The 1990 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont was held on Tuesday, November 6, 1990, to elect the U.S. representative from the state's at-large congressional district. The election coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Democratic Socialists of America</span> American political organization

The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is a big tent, democratic socialist political organization in the United States. After the Socialist Party of America (SPA) was renamed Social Democrats, USA, Michael Harrington formed the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee (DSOC). The DSOC later merged with the New American Movement (NAM) to form the DSA. The organization is headquartered in New York City and has about 80,000 members. It leads organizing and protest campaigns, and has members in the House of Representatives, state legislatures, and other local offices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1996 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont</span>

The 1996 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont was held on Tuesday, November 5, 1996, to elect the U.S. representative from the state's at-large congressional district. The election coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 United States Senate election in Vermont</span>

The 2018 United States Senate election in Vermont was held November 6, 2018, alongside a gubernatorial election, U.S. House election, and other state and local elections. Incumbent independent Senator Bernie Sanders won re-election to a third term, defeating Republican nominee Lawrence Zupan. The primaries were held on August 14. This was one of two independent-held Senate seats up for election in a state that Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election.

Brand New Congress was an American political action committee with the mission to elect hundreds of new progressive congressional representatives in line with the campaign's political platform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Kansas</span>

The 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Kansas were held on November 6, 2018, to elect the four U.S. representatives from the state of Kansas, one from each of the state's four congressional districts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois</span>

The 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois were held on November 6, 2018, to elect U.S. representatives, one from each of the state's eighteen congressional districts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington</span>

The 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington were held on November 3, 2020, to elect the 10 U.S. representatives from the state of Washington, one from each of the state's 10 congressional districts. The elections coincided with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee J. Carter</span> American politician (born 1987)

Lee Jin Carter is an American former politician who represented the 50th district in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2018 to 2022. A member of the Democratic Party, he defeated Jackson Miller, the Republican House Majority Whip, to win the seat. Born in North Carolina, Carter is an IT specialist and a former U.S. Marine. The first openly communist state delegate in the United States since 1929, Carter served on the Finance Committee and the Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee. In 2017, he was endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), of which he was then a member.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jabari Brisport</span> American politician, activist, actor, and teacher (born 1987)

Jabari Brisport is an American politician, activist, and former public school teacher. He is the state senator for New York's 25th State Senate district in Brooklyn, and the first openly gay person of color to be elected to the New York State Legislature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas</span>

The 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas were held on November 8, 2022, to elect the 38 U.S. representatives from Texas, one from each of the state's 38 congressional districts. The state gained two seats after the results of the 2020 census. The elections coincided with other elections to the House of Representatives, other elections to the United States Senate, and various state and local elections. Primary elections took place on March 1, with primary runoffs scheduled for May 24 for districts where no candidate received over 50% of the vote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 New York's 14th congressional district election</span>

The 2018 New York's 14th congressional district election was held on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. The primaries for New York's federal elections were held earlier in the year on June 26. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez defeated incumbent congressman Joe Crowley in the primary, and went on to defeat Republican opponent Anthony Pappas in the general election.

References

  1. ↑ Sanders, Austin (February 11, 2022). "Greg Casar, DSA, and Palestine: Will It Matter?". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  2. ↑ Ahlman, Austin; Grim, Ryan (March 1, 2022). "In Texas Primary, Democratic Socialist Greg Casar Prevails With Wide Margin". The Intercept. Archived from the original on March 2, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Democratic Socialist Summer Lee's Victory in Penn. Gives Progressives a Boost in House". Democracy Now!. November 9, 2022. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022.
  4. ↑ Day, Meagan (August 7, 2020). "Cori Bush on How She Took On the Political Establishment and Won". Jacobin . Archived from the original on November 14, 2020.
  5. ↑ Taylor, Astra (June 17, 2020). "A New Group of Leftist Primary Challengers Campaign Through Protests and the Coronavirus". The New Yorker . Archived from the original on November 14, 2020.
  6. ↑ "What Jamaal Bowman's Loss Means for the Left". The New York Times . Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Bowman Makes Amends With Democratic Socialists After Rift Over Israel". The New York Times . Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Endorsed Candidates - NYC Democratic Socialists of America". socialists.nyc. February 1, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  9. 1 2 Isserman, Maurice (January 11, 2021). "Congress Now Has More Socialists Than Ever Before in U.S. History". In These Times. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. While Dellums and Owens were supportive of DSA, knowledge of their membership in an organization that at the time counted only a few thousand members was mostly left-wing insider baseball. Relatively few of their constituents had likely ever heard of DSA. Not so for the socialists in Congress today, in part because the organization itself has grown a dozen-fold in recent years, recently surpassing 80,000 members. The new socialists' organizational credentials are regularly cited by friends and foes alike ("Democratic socialists salivate over current, future New York state gains," Fox News reported with its usual taste and balance after last November's election.)
  10. ↑ "Ocasio-Cortez Loses the Democratic Socialists' Endorsement Over Israel". The New York Times . Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  11. ↑ "New York's 14th Congressional District election, 2022". Ballotpedia . Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Isserman, Maurice (November 8, 2018). "Socialists in the House: A 100-Year History from Victor Berger to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez". Archived from the original on September 7, 2020.
  13. 1 2 Inskeep, Steve (November 6, 2015). "Bernie Sanders On Being Jewish And A Democratic Socialist". National Public Radio. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023.
  14. 1 2 "Bernie Sanders confirms presidential run and damns America's inequities". The Guardian . Associated Press. April 30, 2015. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. The self-described 'democratic socialist' enters the race as a robust liberal alternative ...
  15. 1 2 Matthews, Dylan (November 20, 2015). "A leading socialist explains what Bernie Sanders's socialism gets right — and wrong". Vox Media. Archived from the original on November 21, 2015.
  16. ↑ "March Update". New Party. Archived from the original on February 2, 1999. The Illinois New Party is working intensively on Willie Delgado's state representative campaign. Delgado is part of an emerging Latino network in Chicago. We're also backing Danny Davis in a Congressional race, Barack Obama for state representative, and judicial candidate Patricia Martin. In addition to the electoral work, the NP in Chicago is supporting a local living wage campaign and an effort to prevent the placement of a waste site on the West Side.
  17. ↑ "Chicago DSA endorsements in the March 19th primary election". New Ground. No. 45 (Mar–Apr 1996). Chicago chapter of Democratic Socialists of America. Archived from the original on March 9, 2009. And Danny Davis is certainly not foreign to Chicago DSA. From the very beginning, he has always been willing to help: appearing as a speaker with Michael Harrington, serving as a Master of Ceremonies without peer at the annual Debs – Thomas – Harrington Dinner.
  18. ↑ Muwakkil, Salim (July 16, 2019). "In 2008, Democratic Socialists Endorsed Him. Now, a DSA Member Is Primarying Him". In These Times. Archived from the original on September 4, 2020.
  19. ↑ Aikerson, Skyler (June 22, 2022). ""It's Time for Generational Change": Why Progressive Challenger Kina Collins Is Taking on a 25-Year Incumbent". In These Times. Archived from the original on June 22, 2022.
  20. ↑ Borenstein, Marsha (November 18, 2013). "Major R. Owens, the People's Congressman (1936–2013)". Democratic Left . Democratic Socialists of America. Archived from the original on August 30, 2019. I was DSA's liaison to Owens' congressional office in Brooklyn. I wrote and called his office when we wanted him to speak at one of our events. He never turned us down. Having once paid dues he believed himself to be a lifetime member of DSA and never let me forget my affiliation with the organization, interrupting me from time to time when I said something that surprised him, with "Is that the official position of DSA?"
  21. ↑ "DSA PAC 1996 Endorsements" (PDF). Democratic Left . No. Raising the Rose Lantern: The Socialist International Comes to the United States (July/August 1996). Democratic Socialists of America. p. 21. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 29, 2019.
  22. ↑ Green, David (March 2015). "DSA Hosts Book Signing Event for Bonior Memoir". Metro Detroit chapter of Democratic Socialists of America. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 29, 2018. Rep. Bonior and his wife Judy are longtime DSA members. They received the Douglass-Debs Award from Detroit DSA in 2003. Rep. Bonior was a co-host for DSA-PAC's successful fundraiser for Bernie Sanders in 2006. It was a pleasure for Detroit DSA to welcome David Bonior home for this event.
  23. ↑ Judis, John (November 1976). "Our Democracy Is More Symbolic Than Real: An Interview With Ron Dellums". Jacobin. Archived from the original on July 17, 2022.
  24. ↑ Margolis, Jon (March 14, 1983). "Bernie of Burlington". The New Republic . Archived from the original on September 20, 2015.
  25. ↑ "L.U.P. History," The Official Website Of The Liberty Union Party – Vermont
  26. ↑ RHODES, George Milton
  27. 1 2 Ohm, Howard F.; Bryhan, Leone G., eds. The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1937 Madison: Democrat Printing Company, State Printer, 1937; pp. vii-viii, 53, 360, 432, 542, 543, 544, 551-552
  28. 1 2 3 Greenberg, David (January 3, 2019). "Socialists Are No Strangers to Congress". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on January 3, 2019.
  29. ↑ Harvey Klehr, The Heyday of American Communism: The Depression Decade. New York: Basic Books, 1984; pg. 256.
  30. 1 2 Serby, Benjamin (December 20, 2018). "New York's Last Socialist Congressperson". Jacobin. Archived from the original on July 6, 2022.
  31. ↑ TEIGAN, Henry George
  32. ↑ https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/B000411
  33. ↑ Haynes, John Earl (1984). Dubious Alliance: The Making of Minnesota's DFL Party. U of Minnesota Press. ISBN   9780816613243.
  34. ↑ Pedersen, Vernon (April 8, 2010). "Terminal Hearing: The House Committee on Un‑American Activities and the Death of Jerry J. O'Connell". C-SPAN. Retrieved December 10, 2010.
    • "Karl Mundt Archives: Justice 1950-1972". Karl E. Mundt Historical & Educational Foundation and Archives. 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
    • Unz, Ron. "Jerry J. O'Connell Archives". The Unz Review: An Alternative Media Selection. Los Angeles, CA: Ron Unz.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  35. ↑ Gellman, Irwin (1999). The Contender. The Free Press. pp. 27–28. ISBN   978-1-4165-7255-8.
  36. ↑ "Bone, Homer Truett (1883-1970)".
  37. 1 2 3 4 Zinn, Howard (1969). LaGuardia in Congress. Cornell University Press. ISBN   978-0-8014-7617-4.
  38. ↑ Allen Eddy, "Biographical Notes," New York State Journal, Dec. 8, 1948. Reprinted in George R. Lunn: A Memorial. Rancho Santa Fe, CA: n.p., 1949; unpaginated [pp. 10–13]
  39. ↑ Johnston, Robert. The Radical Middle Class: Populist Democracy and the Question of Capitalism in Progressive Era Portland, Oregon. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2003.
  40. ↑ "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Freeman Knowles".
  41. ↑ "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Haldor Erickson Boen".
  42. ↑ "Our Campaigns - ND At-Large Race - Nov 06, 1906".
  43. ↑ Bashford, Robert McKee (1878). "The legislative manual of the state of Wisconsin: comprising the constitutions of the United States and of the state of Wisconsin, Jefferson's manual, forms and laws for the regulation of business; also, lists and tables for reference, etc. Seventeenth Annual Edition 1878".
  44. ↑ Tuchinsky, Adam (2009). Horace Greeley's New-York Tribune: Civil War–Era Socialism and the Crisis of Free Labor. Cornell University Press. ISBN   978-0-8014-4667-2. JSTOR   10.7591/j.ctt7zfzw.
  45. ↑ Estabrook, Arthur (August 29, 2017). "The Family History of Robert Owen". Indiana Magazine of History.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.