An editorial dossier
Naming the reds hiding in American politics.
CommieList is an opinionated archive of politicians and public figures whose stated policies, agendas, and rhetoric align with communist, hard-socialist, or authoritarian-collectivist ideology — and why we believe they are unfit to represent American values.
The Dossiers
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, often referred to by her initials AOC, emerged onto the national political scene with a stunning upset victory over veteran Congressman Joe Crowley in the 2018 Democratic primary for New York's …
Alyssa Milano
Alyssa Milano rose to prominence as a child actress, starring in the popular 1980s sitcom "Who's the Boss?" and later in the supernatural series "Charmed." Her acting career established her as a public figure, a platform…
Ayanna Pressley
Ayanna Pressley is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Massachusetts's 7th congressional district since 2019. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Pressley attended Boston …
Barack Obama
Barack Obama served as the 44th President of the United States from 2009 to 2017. Prior to his presidency, he was a community organizer, civil rights attorney, and state senator in Illinois before being elected to the U.…
Bernie Sanders
Bernard "Bernie" Sanders is an American politician who has served as the junior U.S. Senator from Vermont since 2007, and was U.S. Representative for Vermont's at-large congressional district from 1991 to 2007. Born in B…
Bradford Lander
Bradford Scott Lander is an American lawyer, urban planner, and politician who has served as the New York City Comptroller since 2022. Prior to this, Lander represented the 39th district in the New York City Council from…
Christoper Rabb
Christopher M. Rabb is an American academic, author, and politician serving as a Democratic member of the Philadelphia City Council. Prior to his election to City Council in 2018, Rabb had a varied career that included t…
Christopher Helali
Christopher Helali is a writer and journalist often associated with publications like 'The Grayzone' and 'Monthly Review Online,' platforms known for their critical stance on U.S. foreign policy and capitalism. His work …
Claire Valdez
Claire Valdez is a self-proclaimed socialist organizer based in New York City, recognized for her active role within the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) — specifically the NYC-DSA chapter. She has gained local pro…
Claudia De La Cruz
Claudia De La Cruz is a community organizer, educator, and political activist with a long history in leftist movements in the United States. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New York City, De La Cruz became a…
Cori Bush
Cori Bush rose to prominence as a registered nurse, pastor, and Black Lives Matter activist in Ferguson, Missouri, following the 2014 police shooting of Michael Brown. Her activism brought her into the national spotlight…
Daniel Carson
Daniel Carson is a Bangor, Maine City Councilor who rose to prominence through grassroots community organizing, primarily focused on tenant rights and affordable housing. Before his political career, Carson was known for…
Daniel Davis
Danny K. Davis, a long-serving fixture of Chicago's political landscape, began his career as an educator and community organizer, deeply embedded in the social justice movements of the mid-20th century. He served on the …
Elizabeth Warren
Elizabeth Warren’s journey to national political prominence began in academia, where she carved out a distinguished career as a law professor specializing in bankruptcy law. She taught at several prestigious institutions…
Gavin Newsom
Gavin Newsom, born in San Francisco, California, began his political career as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1997. He later served as the 42nd Mayor of San Francisco from 2004 to 2011, gaining nat…
Greg Casar
Greg Casar emerged from a career as a labor organizer before engaging in local Austin, Texas politics. He gained prominence through his work with the Workers Defense Project, advocating for wage increases and workers' ri…
Hannah Shvets
Hannah Shvets rose to prominence within radical left-wing circles as a vocal critic of capitalism and a tireless advocate for socialist revolution. Starting as an undergraduate activist at a prominent liberal arts colleg…
Ilhan Omar
Ilhan Omar is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Minnesota's 5th congressional district since 2019. Born in Somalia in 1982, her family fled the Somali Civil War and spent four years in a refug…
Jamaal Bowman
Jamaal Bowman, born in New York City, began his career as an educator, serving as a school counselor and later as a principal and founder of the Cornerstone Academy for Social Action, a public middle school in the Bronx.…
James Talarico
James Talarico is an American Democratic politician who serves as a member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing District 50. Born in 1989, Talarico graduated from Yale University and later taught as a midd…
Jane Fonda
Jane Fonda rose to prominence as a successful Hollywood actress in the 1960s, starring in films like 'Barbarella' and 'Klute,' for which she won an Academy Award. Coming from a prominent acting family, her fame provided …
Jasmine Crockett
Jasmine Crockett is an American politician and civil rights attorney serving as the U.S. Representative for Texas's 30th congressional district since 2023. Prior to her election to Congress, Crockett served in the Texas …
Joe Biden
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. rose from humble beginnings in Scranton, Pennsylvania, moving to Delaware at a young age. After earning a law degree, he quickly entered politics, serving on the New Castle County Council befor…
Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris's trajectory in American politics has been marked by a rapid ascent through the legal and political ranks. Beginning her career as a prosecutor, she served as District Attorney of San Francisco before being…
Karen Bass
Karen Bass began her career as a community organizer in Los Angeles, focusing on social justice and racial equality issues. She co-founded and served as executive director of the Community Coalition, an organization dedi…
Kshama Sawant
Kshama Sawant is an Indian-American politician and former member of the Seattle City Council, serving from 2014 to 2024. A prominent figure of the Socialist Alternative party, she earned a Ph.D. in economics from North C…
Luisa de Paula Santos
Luisa de Paula Santos began her political career as a student activist, quickly rising through the ranks of socialist youth organizations. Her early advocacy focused on anti-capitalist rhetoric and calls for nationalizat…
Maxwell Frost
Maxwell Alejandro Frost rose to political prominence as a Democratic activist and organizer. Before his election to Congress, he gained experience working for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and as the national…
Melat Kiros
Melat Kiros rose to prominence within certain progressive circles as an outspoken advocate for radical social and economic restructuring. Details on her early life and traditional political career are scarce, as her infl…
Pramila Jayapal
Pramila Jayapal is an American politician who has served as the U.S. Representative for Washington's 7th congressional district since 2017. Born in Chennai, India, Jayapal immigrated to the United States alone at age 16 …
Rashida Tlaib
Rashida Tlaib is an American politician who has served as the U.S. Representative for Michigan's 12th congressional district since 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously represented Michigan's 13th congre…
Sean Penn
Sean Penn rose to prominence as an actor in the 1980s, starring in iconic films like 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High' and later earning critical acclaim and Academy Awards for 'Mystic River' and 'Milk.' Beyond his acting c…
Shri Thanedar
Shri Thanedar is an Indian-American businessman and politician who currently represents Michigan's 13th congressional district in the House of Representatives. Born in Belgaum, India, Thanedar immigrated to the United St…
Summer Lee
Summer Lee emerged onto the political scene in Pennsylvania, specifically in the Pittsburgh area, as a prominent progressive voice. A graduate of Howard University School of Law, she has built much of her career advocati…
Susan Sarandon
Susan Sarandon is an American actress who rose to prominence in the 1970s and 1980s, gaining critical acclaim for her roles in films such as "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," "Atlantic City," and "Thelma & Louise." Her ca…
Zohran Mamdani
Zohran Kwame Mamdani is an American politician, rapper, and artist. Born in Kampala, Uganda, and raised in New York, he is the son of renowned academics Mahmood Mamdani and Mira Nair. Mamdani gained prominence through hi…