Related videos:
The United States House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a resolution condemning socialism, in a legislative act that united traditionally opposing sectors of both parties.
The text, driven by Cuban-American Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar, received the vote of 86 Democrats, who joined their rivals to formally censure the "socialist policies" in the country, right after the victory of the openly socialist mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani.
According to a report by FOX News, the voting concluded with 285 votes in favor and 98 against.
Two Democratic congressmembers from Pennsylvania and Oregon chose to vote "present," a position that neither supports nor opposes the text.
Among the votes that attracted the most attention was that of the Democratic minority leader in the House, Hakeem Jeffries, representative from New York, who endorsed Mamdani days before the municipal elections.
The resolution presented recalls the historical consequences of socialism in various countries, questioning its economic and human impact. It explicitly cites famines and mass murders under regimes such as that of Fidel Castro in Cuba, Mao Zedong in China, and Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela.
The document concludes: "The House of Representatives resolves that Congress denounces socialism in all its forms and opposes the implementation of socialist policies in the United States."
Although it is not binding, the measure comes amid a political debate that has gained new strength following the electoral rise of figures associated with progressivism.
The context of the voting is marked by the growth of a faction within the Democratic Party that promotes state intervention policies in areas such as public health, education, transportation, and housing.
Personalities like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have become national references for these agendas, and now Mamdani's presence in New York adds to this, with a message focused on social justice.
The resolution also comes just before Mamdani meets with Donald Trump.
During the campaign, the president repeatedly referred to him as a "communist" and accused him of wanting to turn New York "into another Caracas or Havana."
Those who supported the resolution argue that socialism contradicts the principles of economic and political freedom of the country.
Representative Byron Donalds, a Republican from Florida, praised the vote and asserted that socialism "always leads to the destruction of people's freedoms."
For Donalds, Congress has the responsibility to defend "capitalism, free markets, and freedom" against oppressive systems.
Internal tensions still persist within the Democratic Party. While a progressive faction has gained prominence in recent months, other lawmakers insist on maintaining a more centrist approach.
One of them is the Democrat Tom Suozzi, also from New York, who voted in favor of the condemnation. Suozzi rejects agendas that he describes as "openly socialist" and advocates for a return to traditional policies.
The vote on Friday reflects an unusual convergence between Democrats and Republicans, driven by a shared fear of the growing influence of positions advocating for a more interventionist role of the state.
While the U.S. political scene continues to debate its direction, Mamdani's victory and the reaction from Congress indicate that socialism, in its American version, has ceased to be a marginal concept and has become a central axis of national contention.
Filed under: