On November 10, 2026, the Attorney General of Florida, James Uthmeier, made a significant announcement, revealing that his office has issued a subpoena to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). This move aims to investigate whether the organization has received foreign funding from countries such as China and Cuba, as well as to examine if their fundraising activities violate state laws.
Attorney General Uthmeier stated that the investigation will focus on the DSA’s recent delegation trips to China and Cuba, scrutinizing the related fundraising efforts and sources of funding. The inquiry will seek to determine if these funds originated from foreign governments.
Uthmeier stressed the importance of transparency, indicating that the Florida Attorney General’s office has requested documents related to the DSA’s recent visits to China and Cuba. He highlighted that these trips and activities involved expenditures totaling tens of thousands of dollars. The investigation will examine whether these funds were received from foreign governments and if the DSA provided adequate disclosure on the use of funds when soliciting donations from Florida residents.
Since July 2025, Florida has implemented laws that prohibit organizations seeking donations from state residents from accepting contributions from “foreign sources of concern,” which includes governments of countries like China and Cuba. This investigation is grounded in Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA) and relevant fundraising regulations.
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is a homegrown socialist political organization in the United States. In recent years, it has increasingly influenced American politics through its support of left-leaning candidates and social movements. The DSA has established itself as a significant force on the left within the Democratic Party.
Founded in 1982, the DSA advocates for socialist reforms through democratic means, aiming to gradually transform the capitalistic system in America. Its policy agenda promotes universal healthcare, raising the minimum wage, expanding public services, increasing taxes on the wealthy and corporations, strengthening protections for housing and labor, and advocating for the public ownership of key industries. The organization seeks to diminish capitalist control over both the economy and politics, while expanding the authority of labor and public institutions.
The DSA gained traction with younger demographics following Bernie Sanders’ participation in the 2016 presidential election, resulting in a rapid increase in membership. In recent years, several candidates endorsed by the DSA have successfully entered Congress and local governments, further amplifying the organization’s political influence.
Notable members of the DSA include New York’s Congressman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Michigan’s Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Mamdani, who was elected Mayor in 2025, has become one of the organization’s most prominent local political figures. While Bernie Sanders is a major proponent of democratic socialism, he is not a formal member of the DSA.
The DSA collaborates with the Democratic Party during elections but adopts more radical stances on economic and foreign policy matters. It advocates for the lifting of sanctions against Cuba, opposes certain U.S. military interventions abroad, and supports the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.
In recent years, the DSA has actively promoted international socialist exchanges, orchestrating delegations to visit China and Cuba to engage with local government officials.
In 2023, a DSA delegation privately met with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel to seek a formal communication channel with Cuban government entities. In 2025, the DSA formally sent a 40-member delegation to Cuba to meet with the country’s Deputy Foreign Minister and publicly express opposition to the U.S. blockade while supporting Cuban socialism.
On issues related to China, the DSA’s International Committee has established a working group focusing on China, promoting political research and exchanges related to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), while criticizing U.S. policies toward China from an anti-imperialist standpoint. In 2025, some DSA members joined a delegation to China to participate in events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan.
Records of DSA internal meetings, disclosed by Newsweek in February of this year, indicated that some members of the International Committee had discussed deepening ties with the CCP, suggesting that sensitive topics such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Xinjiang should be avoided in their discussions.
In response to queries from Florida Politics, the DSA’s communications director, Priscilla Yeverino, acknowledged awareness of the investigation but refrained from commenting further.
Just a week before the announcement of the investigation, Democratic Party candidate Ashley Herrmann, endorsed by the DSA, became the first DSA member to be elected to the Florida State Legislature by defeating a Republican incumbent in the state assembly elections.