Staff Reports
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) just pulled off a string of headline-grabbing primary upsets and a new interview from DSA co-chair Megan Romer added fuel to the fire. That combination has conservatives and some centrists asking the same question: will Speaker Mike Johnson force an up-or-down House floor vote to make Democrats pick a side? It’s a smart play — if Johnson wants to use the House calendar like a scalpel instead of a scarf.
Why a privileged resolution could matter
Put simply: a public roll call changes politics. Forcing a House floor vote — whether called a privileged resolution or something similar — would make moderate Democrats choose between their party’s left flank and the voters back home. DSA primary wins and Romer’s controversial comments about October 7 have handed Republicans an opening to spotlight radical policy ideas and ugly rhetoric. If 20, 50, or 100 moderate members want to keep their seats next year, they’ll think twice before waving the socialist flag.
Don’t expect magic — the rules bite back
That said, the House is not a playground where any idea can be vaulted onto the floor by wishful thinking. “Privileged” procedures exist, but mostly for narrowly defined statutory cases. In practice the Speaker and the Rules Committee decide what reaches the floor. There’s no public filing right now of a new H.Res. specifically condemning the DSA, so this is a plan, not a launched missile. Johnson would have to choose to run it — and that choice is the whole point.
How to make the move effective — and avoid a self-own
If Speaker Johnson takes this route, he should do it smartly. Keep the language tight: denounce specific policy demands (nationalizing big swaths of the economy, abolishing police and prisons, open borders) and specific bigoted statements — not a blanket attack on dissent or on ordinary voters. A narrowly drawn resolution looks like a values test, not an attempt to silence opposition. And expect the left to howl about free speech. That howl is predictable. It’s also a soundbite the GOP can use to remind voters what’s really at stake.
Politics, payoffs, and the final word
The risks are real. A staged vote can rally the left and let Democrats paint Republicans as fearmongers. It can also put vulnerable Republicans in awkward spots. But the upside is cleaner: it forces clarity. Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Leader Chuck Schumer can either defend the radical new wing of their party or disown it. If moderates like Rep. Josh Gottheimer, Rep. Tom Suozzi, and Rep. Jared Moskowitz break ranks, Johnson gains bargaining chips that could keep a working majority on key business even if the margins shift. If Democrats all flee the vote, voters will notice who ran and who hid.
Speaker Johnson should stop sending passive signals and start using his power to test the political water. The DSA’s primary wins and Romer’s interview haven’t just changed headlines — they created a moment of choice. Republicans should press it hard, but wisely. The House calendar is a weapon. Use it with aim, not with fireworks and theatrics.
