Representative Henry Cuellar, a Democrat from Texas, has issued a stark warning to his party, accusing the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) of exploiting the Democratic Party as a temporary vehicle to push a radical agenda. In an interview on Fox News' "Saturday in America," Cuellar argued that DSA-backed candidates often conceal their more extreme policy positions behind moderate-sounding talking points to win Democratic primaries.
"They're trying to use the safe Democratic seats to run in. And they also know that the Democratic Party is inadequate, but they're using us or trying to use the Democratic Party as a vehicle so later they can set up their own platform," Cuellar said. He called on fellow Democrats to openly reject the DSA's platform, which he described as "radical" and out of step with mainstream Democratic values.
Cuellar specifically pointed to several DSA positions he finds unacceptable, including proposals to restructure the Supreme Court, abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), defund the police, eliminate the Senate, and open borders. "As a Democrat, I reject what the DSA is doing. I read their platform, and it is radical," he said. "They want to... get rid of the Senate. So constitutional changes there. They want to get rid of ICE. I reject that. They want to defund police. I reject that, reject also the constitutional items. They want to have open borders also, I reject that. They want to get rid of prisons. I reject that."
The Texas lawmaker noted that DSA candidates rarely discuss these controversial agenda items during campaigns. Instead, they focus on issues like affordability, housing, and the cost of living to win over voters. "They're trying to use the Democratic Party. They're not talking about those radical positions. They're talking about affordability and housing, things that sound good, but we as Democrats, we reject that radical faction," Cuellar said. "They don't even have their own party, but they're trying to use the Democrat Party... I reject them completely."
Cuellar's warning comes from personal experience. He has faced primary challenges from socialist-backed candidates in the past. According to Cuellar, the DSA and the allied group Justice Democrats spent over $20 million against him in two previous primaries. He won both contests by running on a platform of strong border security and support for oil and gas jobs. "I defeated them and what I did, I stood for Border Patrol, I stood strong border security, I stood up for oil and gas in a Democratic primary. And guess what? The Democratic voters in my district said yes and said no to the radical position," he said.
The congressman's remarks come amid a series of recent electoral victories by DSA-backed candidates. In Colorado, Melat Kiros, a candidate supported by the DSA, defeated longtime Democratic Representative Diana DeGette in Denver's heavily Democratic district. In New York, a group of far-left candidates won their elections in late June, backed by New York City's Democratic socialist mayor, Zohran Mamdani. The winners included newcomer Darializa Avila Chevalier, who beat powerful Representative Adriano Espaillat, and Brad Lander, who defeated Representative Dan Goldman.
These victories have raised concerns among moderate Democrats about the direction of the party. Cuellar's call for a clear rejection of the DSA's agenda reflects a broader debate within the Democratic Party over its ideological future. While some progressives argue that the DSA's policies address economic inequality and systemic issues, centrists like Cuellar warn that embracing such positions could alienate swing voters and undermine the party's electoral prospects.
Cuellar emphasized that the Democratic Party must remain a broad coalition that includes a range of views, but he drew a firm line against what he sees as an attempt to hijack the party for a socialist agenda. "We as Democrats, we reject that radical faction," he said. The DSA has not yet responded to requests for comment on Cuellar's statements.
