While Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., preaches about democratic socialism to her base, it turns out one of the most influential figures behind her rise is an actual architect of the modern socialist movement in America — and he’s been cashing checks from her campaign since day one.
Frank Llewellyn, the former national director of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) — the country’s largest socialist organization — has been quietly serving as treasurer for both Ocasio-Cortez’s congressional campaign and her PAC, Courage to Change, since 2018. According to FEC filings reviewed by Fox News Digital, Llewellyn has pocketed more than $250,000 in salary, travel, and other administrative expenses over the course of her political career.
Despite Ocasio-Cortez’s carefully curated image as an outsider “fighting for the people,” her campaign has maintained a long-term financial and ideological relationship with a self-declared lifetime socialist who once celebrated Bernie Sanders’ election as a historic DSA victory.
“A self-declared socialist has won a seat in the United States Senate,” Llewellyn wrote triumphantly in a DSA magazine article after Sanders’ 2006 victory, touting the group’s deep involvement in Sanders’ campaign.
Llewellyn was more than just a cheerleader — he was DSA’s national director for over a decade (2001–2011), during which the organization grew in reach and influence. His current roles include sitting on the board of the Democratic Socialists of America Fund, a tax-exempt sister organization to DSA. The DSA Fund’s website boasts that he helped found the “Institute for Democratic Socialism” — the precursor to the current fund.
“A lifelong activist and socialist, he served Democratic Socialists of America in New York City since the organization was founded,” the DSA Fund proudly notes. “He served on its National Political Committee and as its National Director for more than ten years.”
Llewellyn, now deeply embedded in Ocasio-Cortez’s political operations, confirmed to Fox News Digital that he has been on her staff since 2018 and remains a lifetime DSA member.
The same DSA machinery backing AOC is now working overtime to install another hard-left figure into power — this time in New York City. Zohran Mamdani, a DSA-backed Assemblyman and avowed socialist, is currently leading the NYC mayoral race by double digits, raising serious alarms for those concerned about socialism’s growing grip on American cities.
DSA hasn’t even tried to hide its involvement. In a July panel, DSA organizer Daniel Goulden openly bragged about how closely the organization is collaborating with Mamdani’s campaign.
“With Zohran, we’re in basically the best possible position to seize state power,” Goulden said, demonstrating the closeness with a finger gesture. He even admitted that the group helped write parts of Mamdani’s platform.
That’s not just campaign support — that’s ideological capture.
In true socialist fashion, AOC and Bernie Sanders have been rallying against the “billionaire class” while simultaneously enjoying the perks of elite travel. Their joint “Fighting Oligarchy” tour this year spanned 20 states, drawing over 300,000 attendees across 34 rallies — and reportedly racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars in travel costs, including boutique hotel stays and private jet flights.
The irony wasn’t lost on critics.
Meanwhile, back in New York, Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders are lending their star power to Mamdani’s campaign — expected to attend a major rally this Sunday. Their continued support further cements the overlap between the far-left political elite and a growing, well-funded socialist movement.
Under the guise of “social justice,” DSA chapters — especially in NYC — have pushed extreme policies ranging from calls to abolish ICE to government seizure of rental properties from “bad landlords.” Their solution to housing issues? Have the city take over your property if you fail to meet their standards.
AOC has largely echoed these views throughout her career — aligning closely with DSA’s radical policy wish list while keeping her ties to top socialist operatives like Llewellyn largely under the radar.
Despite the leftward surge in places like New York, national polling tells a different story: Americans still prefer capitalism over socialism. According to a recent Fox News poll, even though many voters support higher taxes on the wealthy, socialism as an ideology continues to trail far behind in popularity.
Ocasio-Cortez built her political brand on being an “outsider,” yet her campaign has been driven for years by a lifelong socialist insider with deep DSA roots. While she rails against the wealthy and powerful, her top political aide helped launch the career of Bernie Sanders — and now plays a key role in grooming New York’s next socialist mayor.
