Key facts
- Eight House Democrats voted to adopt a resolution denouncing socialism.
- The resolution also called for the passage of President Trump's SAVE America Act, a voter identification bill.
- Six of the eight Democrats who voted for the resolution are in races rated as 'toss-up' or 'lean Republican' by the Cook Political Report.
- Democrats who voted for the resolution cited constituent concerns about socialism and support for voter ID.
- Two Democrats voted present on the resolution.
Several Democratic lawmakers in competitive House districts voted with Republicans to adopt a resolution denouncing socialism, a move aimed at countering Republican attacks and addressing constituent concerns. The resolution, which passed with eight Democratic 'yes' votes, also included a nonbinding endorsement of President Trump's SAVE America Act, a voter identification bill that has faced opposition from many Democrats.
Representatives Jared Golden (D-Maine), Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.), Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), Don Davis (D-N.C.), Darren Soto (D-Fla.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) all voted in favor of the resolution. Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) and Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.) voted present.
Republicans have sought to make anti-socialism a central theme in the midterm elections, framing themselves as defenders of capitalism. The House resolution provided an opportunity to put Democrats on record regarding their stance on socialism. However, the inclusion of the SAVE America Act, which requires proof of citizenship to register and photo ID to vote, complicated the vote for many Democrats.
Those who voted for the resolution stated that constituent anxiety about socialism, particularly from Cuban and Venezuelan communities, was a primary driver. Kathy Castor noted that the voter ID provision was unlikely to pass Congress and therefore not a significant concern. Vicente Gonzalez expressed his general opposition to socialism and support for voter ID, though he had reservations about specific provisions in the SAVE Act.
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez appeared to criticize the SAVE Act portion of the resolution on social media, suggesting that debates over 'isms' and complex voting requirements distract from the economic struggles of working Americans.