Representative Josh Gottheimer, a New Jersey Democrat and member of the House Intelligence Committee, sharply condemned the Democratic Socialists of America on Sunday, saying the group is not part of the Democratic Party and should create its own party if it wants to promote its agenda.

« Obviously, I'm a very proud, commonsense Democrat, and I don't think DSA members are Democrats. They're socialists, right? And I'm all for them having their own party if they want one, but if they're trying to take over our party, that's unacceptable to me, » Gottheimer said during a Sunday television interview. The New Jersey lawmaker is a leader of the centrist Blue Dog Coalition.

Gottheimer argued that the DSA's platform does not fit the Democratic agenda. « Their values, their ideas are certainly not in line with ours, and they don't support our leadership. They're trying to use the Democratic Party as a vessel for their ideas, » he said. He pointed to video clips from the group's convention in Chicago, where activists expressed support for the Communist Manifesto and Leon Trotsky. He described the movement as « anti-American, » « anti-cop » and opposed to the idea of borders.

At the Chicago convention, one activist said the group is organizing to get « ICE off our campuses. » A member of the DSA's National Political Committee argued that critics misunderstand the organization, saying its platform is the « most American thing you can do. » Another committee member said the same kind of socialism was familiar from growing up in the Christian Church.

Gottheimer used the comparison to highlight the gulf between the groups. He said the Democratic Party has about 45 million registered voters, while the DSA has roughly 150,000 official members. « They're not welcome in the Democratic Party, » he added. He also pushed back on Democratic lawmakers who have shown openness to DSA-aligned candidates such as Maine oysterman Graham Platner.

His broadside came as some Democrats argue for changes to the party's approach. Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, said the party should not have « watched wealth pile up on Wall Street and Silicon Valley » at the expense of working-class Americans, adding that the Democratic Party needs reform. Gottheimer responded that fringe coalitions are mounting insurgencies in both parties and « trying to barge in » with ideas that are not compatible with the party's mainstream.

Gottheimer also weighed in on Hasan Piker, a left-wing streamer whose potential influence has become a flashpoint. Longtime Democratic strategist James Carville said he would disown the party if Piker were permitted to become one of its leaders. Asked about that possibility, Gottheimer said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries would not back Piker. « Hasan Piker is not a Democrat, » he said, calling the streamer « the ultimate grifter » and noting Piker has said the September 11 attacks were America's fault. « We've got to make it clear he's not welcome in the Democratic Party. »

When asked whether he would ever leave the party, as Rep. Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey did during President Donald Trump's first term, Gottheimer said he has no plans to do so. Van Drew, whose district includes Cape May, switched to the Republican Party after embracing Trump's platform, angering Democratic committees in South Jersey. Gottheimer's own district stretches from liberal New York City suburbs near the George Washington Bridge to the heavily Republican Skylands region near the Delaware Water Gap, making it one of the most politically divided congressional seats in the state.

The exchange highlighted a broader struggle inside the Democratic Party between its moderate wing and a smaller but vocal socialist movement. Gottheimer said the DSA can « scream and yell and try to hijack the party, » but Democrats must make clear that « that's not who we are. »