Socialists are now at the helm in New York and Seattle, and come November, Washington, D.C. But it’s not just cities that the Democratic Socialists of America have their eyes on: The true prize is 1600 Pennsylvania.
When asked if socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) should run for higher office, socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani replied: “When does the race for 2028 begin? It starts now. It starts Tuesday.”
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Mamdani’s call is all the more concerning given the current state of federalism and the balance of power between the states and Washington. Although it’s lost on most politicians, America’s federalist system reserves most power to the states while leaving a few enumerated powers to Washington, D.C.
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Such a system would make the stakes of a President Ocasio-Cortez much less daunting. The states would be the real political players — the laboratories of democracy that reflect the policy preferences of the people who live there. California could pursue wealth taxes and DEI to its heart’s content while leaving Mississippi alone.
If only.
The anti-federalists warned in 1787 that a powerful central government would one day overwhelm the states. Unfortunately, they were right.
One-size-fits-all mandates from Washington are the norm, and the federal city has its hands in everything from education to healthcare to housing. As Congress has grown inert, presidents of both parties have stepped in to fill the vacuum, resulting in a presidency more powerful than at any point in history. Policy is now made through executive order, not through its proper place in the legislative branch.
Both political parties own this metastasizing centralization, as their enthusiasm for state autonomy rests on whether they control the White House. This fair-weather federalism was on full display during the first year of President Donald Trump’s second term, when Democratic governors rediscovered the role of states in our constitutional system. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) even quipped: “Federalism is the cornerstone of our democracy. It’s the United STATES of America.” It’s not hard to guess where Newsom will stand on state power once Washington shifts to Democratic control.
But what if, as both the Right and establishment Left now fear, a socialist wins the presidency? Given the power and influence now wielded by the federal government, socialists would be free to try to inflict their left-wing agenda on all of America. Universal healthcare, defunded police, and a government-run economy will no longer be confined to New York but forced on Memphis, Savannah, and Des Moines.
Reducing the size and scope of the federal government can help contain these socialist dreams to liberal enclaves. When the states restore their proper role, no one election in Washington can upend the lives of 330 million Americans.
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Federalism also acts as a check on these socialist lab experiments. While New York and Washington may embrace higher taxes and greater government control, Americans still have Florida and Texas to look to as alternatives — lower taxes, fewer regulations, and greater economic freedom. The genius of America’s design is to let these experiments play out, let the results speak for themselves, and let our citizens vote with their feet.
As socialists continue to gain momentum, the stakes of Washington D.C.’s unchecked power have never been clearer. Federalists and Anti-federalists alike agreed that federal power needed limits — it’s time we heeded their call.
Christopher Dauer is President and CEO of State Policy Network.
