Francesca Hong, a Democratic socialist candidate for Wisconsin governor, addressed voters at a retirement home in Madison on July 7, 2026. The Democratic Socialists of America have celebrated recent electoral wins and anticipate more success. Their aim is to gain sufficient power to implement their agenda. However, their platform conflicts with key elements of the U.S. Constitution, posing challenges to their ability to genuinely take the oath of office.
Article VI of the U.S. Constitution mandates that members of Congress, and federal officers, must take an oath to support the Constitution. This requirement dates back to a simple oath established by the First Congress in 1789. Over time, the oath evolved. The current version, unchanged since 1966, pledges to support and defend the Constitution against all adversaries, foreign and domestic, and declares allegiance to it.
This presents a dilemma for newly elected Democratic Socialists. Their intention to overhaul the Constitution and implement a different governance system contradicts the oath’s requirement. The Democratic Socialists’ platform suggests dismantling the current constitutional structure entirely.
The Constitution’s Articles I, II, and III establish the separation of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. This system provides checks and balances. However, the Democratic Socialists propose to eliminate the Electoral College, and replace the president and Supreme Court with officials chosen by Congress who would lack independence.
Further proposals include expanding the House of Representatives, introducing proportional representation and ranked-choice voting, and abolishing the Senate. Such changes not only challenge Articles II and III but also Article I’s provisions, reshaping the Senate’s role, which Article V protects from alteration without consent.
Supporters of these proposals face accusations of perjury if they claim to uphold the Constitution while seeking to eliminate crucial elements. Despite this, current congressional procedures do not prevent certified members-elect from taking the oath. Although Congress could exclude new members by majority vote, such actions appear improbable.
The responsibility then falls on Congress, the media, and voters to question how Democratic Socialists intend to support the Constitution while proposing its fundamental transformation.
Merrill Matthews is the Texas state chair of Our Republican Legacy.
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