The U.S. House of Representatives approved a Republican-led resolution on Friday morning that condemns the “horrors of socialism.” This vote occurred just hours before President Donald Trump was set to meet with New York’s incoming democratic socialist mayor, Zohran Mamdani. Seattle’s mayor-elect Katie Wilson also identifies as a democratic socialist. Earlier this week, Trump described Wilson as “more than socialist,” labeling her “very, very liberal-slash-communist.”
House GOP leaders, including Speaker Mike Johnson, have been vocal critics of Mamdani, who is poised to take the helm of the nation’s largest city. They argue that Mamdani’s political stance signifies a shift towards a “radical” direction for the national Democratic Party, intending to spotlight him in their campaign strategies leading into the 2026 midterm elections.
Democratic members of Congress have dismissed these criticisms, claiming the resolution is misleading and overly generalized. They asserted that it “selectively lists certain despotic leaders and the harms of totalitarian regimes self-labeled as ‘socialist,’” though they refrained from formally urging their members to oppose it. Some moderate Democrats, particularly from New York, have expressed concerns regarding Mamdani’s rising influence within the party.
Tensions flared briefly during the debate when Florida Republican Rep. Maria Salazar accused California Democrat Rep. Maxine Waters of being a “friend” of Fidel Castro, referencing her past travels to Cuba and claiming she had firsthand knowledge of the regime’s abuses. Waters objected and requested that Salazar’s comments be removed from the record. Ultimately, Salazar withdrew her remarks, allowing the discussion to continue before the vote.
The resolution passed with a vote tally of 285-98, reflecting a blend of election-year politics and significant divisions within the Democratic caucus. Notably, 86 Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the measure, while two others voted “present.” No Republicans opposed it, with Democrats like Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Rep. Marilyn Strickland from Washington state among those who voted in favor.
