Progressive lawmakers push back on DSA's proposal to eliminate the Senate
Prominent members of Congress, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ro Khanna, rejected the Democratic Socialists of America’s call to scrap the Senate, favoring reforms instead.
The Democratic Socialists of America’s new platform proposes radical reforms, including the removal of the Senate, a shift to proportional representation, and expanded voting rights for non-citizens. High-profile progressive legislators pushed back, with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez noting that any change would require a constitutional convention and that she cannot unilaterally dissolve the chamber. Ro Khanna clarified his stance, supporting the elimination of the filibuster rather than the Senate itself.
Representative Rebecca Balint warned that abolishing the Senate would erase rural representation for states like Vermont. Despite internal dissent, the DSA’s membership has grown to over 120,000, and the group is actively backing candidates in upcoming primaries in Michigan, Missouri, and Maine, aiming to translate its agenda into electoral gains.
Why it matters
The debate shows tension between activist proposals and practical legislative realities within the progressive wing of U.S. politics.
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