Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) warned voters on Sunday that if Democrats regain control of the House of Representatives in the upcoming midterm elections, candidates associated with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) will form what she termed a 'commie caucus.' Malliotakis made these comments while discussing the current political landscape in New York.

The representative’s remarks were prompted by her opposition to specific economic policies, notably a proposal by New York City officials, including Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani (D), regarding a new tax on second homes. Malliotakis argued that such fiscal policies are indicative of the broader agenda that DSA-aligned candidates would pursue if they were to secure seats in Congress.

While Malliotakis framed the potential election of these candidates as a significant ideological shift toward socialism, the Democratic candidates in question generally describe their platforms as focused on housing affordability, tenant protections, and progressive taxation. The term 'commie' is used by Malliotakis as a pejorative to characterize the socialist platform, though the candidates themselves do not use this terminology to describe their own political goals. The report from The Hill focuses primarily on Malliotakis's rhetoric and her critique of local tax policy, without providing a direct response from the DSA-aligned candidates mentioned in her statement.