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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez renewed her membership with the Democratic Socialists of America following a seven-year lapse as the organization’s national profile grows.
The New York congresswoman, widely viewed as a potential 2028 presidential contender, rejoined DSA this month as the group builds momentum from a string of Democratic primary victories, including over several incumbents. Although Ocasio-Cortez’s formal membership had lapsed for seven years, she remained closely aligned with DSA, which continued to praise her and refer to her as a member.
“Democratic Socialists of America confirms Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a member in good standing of our organization, having recently rejoined in August 2026,” DSA wrote in a statement shared with City & State New York, a local news outlet. “Previously, the representative joined DSA in 2018 with a one-year membership, which DSA’s national leadership recently noticed had lapsed, in 2019. She has since renewed her membership as of this month.”
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Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York, departs following a vote at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. (Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
DSA discovered the lapse after Ocasio-Cortez recently described herself as a member of its New York City chapter but not the national organization, prompting DSA leaders to review her membership status, City & State reported.
When Ocasio-Cortez first joined DSA, annual memberships had to be manually renewed each year. The organization has since moved to automatic renewals.
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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at the New York Is Not For Sale rally on Oct. 26, 2025. (Neil Constantine/NurPhoto)
“This is LOL in a gently humorous way rather than LOL in a mean way,” Washington Post columnist Megan McArdle posted on X in response to the news. “Could definitely have happened to me.”
Some, however, don’t think that Ocasio-Cortez’s renewal is purely incidental.
“I’m sorry but I’m not buying this,” one socialist X user wrote. “She’s just now realizing this? Coincidentally when DSA has grown in popularity and shown its organizing power? Just so happens to be the same time she’s contemplating running for president too? Very, very, very convenient.”
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Others used the congresswoman’s renewed membership as an opportunity to poke fun at her.
“In the 50s, a running joke in communist circles was that everyone knew who the FBI agents were: they were the only ones who always paid their membership dues on time,” author Byrne Hobart posted.
“Inexcusable for a DSA member to pay rent,” economist Wojtek Kopczuk said.
U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) speaks on Day one of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., August 19, 2024. (REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz)
Despite Ocasio-Cortez’s longstanding ties to DSA, The Washington Post reported earlier this month that the organization was divided over whether and how to make a 2028 presidential endorsement, with Ocasio-Cortez at the center of the debate.
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Ocasio-Cortez’s office did not respond to a request for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Wednesday.