Thirteen Democratic House members and candidates have signed onto a new centrist initiative called “Promise to America,” explicitly declaring “We are capitalist, not socialist” and calling for secure borders, fiscal responsibility, and national pride.
The announcement comes days after Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates won several primaries in New York, bringing to light the ongoing tensions inside the Democratic Party as it prepares for the 2026 midterms under President Donald Trump.
What the Pledge Says
The full text of the pledge outlines six core principles.
Under “Growth, Competition, and Broad Prosperity,” it states: “We are capitalist, not socialist.” It calls for an economy that rewards hard work, lowers costs, and expands opportunity rather than favoring those at the top.
The “Safety, Security, and Human Dignity” section reads: “We want safety, not lawlessness.” It supports “secure borders,” “orderly immigration,” and “safe communities.”
Other sections commit signers to fiscal discipline (“We are responsible, not reckless”), to competent government, to free speech and moderation (“We are mainstream, not extreme”), and to “Confident Patriotism” (“We are proud, not ashamed of America”).
The Rift Inside the Democratic Party
The Democratic Party has long contained differing wings.
Moderate or centrist Democrats, often associated with groups such as the New Democrat Coalition, generally favor market-oriented policies, a strong national defense, and pragmatic approaches to issues such as immigration and crime. They tend to represent suburban and swing districts where voters prioritize affordability, safety, and results over ideological transformation.
In contrast, Democratic socialists, aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), advocate for policies such as Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, wealth taxes, and defunding or reimagining policing. Prominent DSA members in Congress include Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich), who push for systemic changes to capitalism itself, Politico reported.
Recent primary wins by DSA-backed candidates in New York have intensified the divide, prompting moderates to organize.
Who Signed the Pledge?
The following 13 individuals have reportedly signed the “Promise to America” pledge as of June 26, 2026:
- Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) — Co-leading the initiative
- Rep. Adam Gray (D-CA) — Co-leading the initiative
- Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ)
- Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV)
- Rep. Don Davis (D-NC)
- Rep. Vicente Gonzalez Jr. (D-TX)
- Rep. Laura Gillen (D-NY)
- Rep. Janelle Bynum (D-OR)
- Rep. Kristin McDonald Rivet (D-MI)
- Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH)
- Jessica Killin (candidate)
- Marlene Galán Woods (candidate)
- Bobby Pulido (candidate)
Suozzi told Fox & Friends, “As we said in our pledge… we’re for capitalism, not socialism. We’re for safety, not lawlessness. We’re proud of America, not ashamed of America — and we need to be promoting those things.” He added that both the far left and far right are well organized, and moderates must do better at organizing.
Potential Impact of the Division
The public split comes as Democrats assess losses in recent cycles and prepare for midterms. Moderates argue that embracing socialist-leaning policies has hurt the party in battleground areas. Progressives counter that bold left-wing ideas mobilize the base and address inequality.
