EXPOSED: AOC's $250K Campaign Payments to Socialist Leader

Paul Riverbank, 10/23/2025Recent revelations expose deep-rooted connections between Rep. Ocasio-Cortez's campaign and the Democratic Socialists of America through her treasurer Frank Llewellyn, a former DSA director. This connection gains significance as DSA-backed candidate Zohran Mamdani leads NYC's mayoral race, potentially marking a shift in progressive politics.

The Growing Socialist Network in American Politics: A Closer Look

The intricate web connecting progressive politics and democratic socialism in America has become increasingly visible, particularly in New York City's political landscape. I've been tracking these developments closely, and recent revelations about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's campaign infrastructure have shed new light on the sophisticated organizing capacity of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).

At the heart of this story lies Frank Llewellyn, whose role as treasurer for both AOC's campaign and PAC might seem unremarkable at first glance. But here's what makes this interesting: Llewellyn isn't just any political operative – he's the former national director of DSA and proudly claims "lifetime member" status. His compensation package, including those $1,281 biweekly payments, has totaled over $250,000 since 2018.

What really catches my eye as a political analyst is the timing. This revelation coincides with DSA-backed Zohran Mamdani's surprising lead in NYC's mayoral race. During my years covering urban politics, I've rarely seen such explicit coordination between democratic socialist organizations and mainstream Democratic campaigns. Just consider DSA organizer Daniel Goulden's remarkably candid comment about being "like this" with Mamdani's campaign – a level of symbiosis that would have been unthinkable a decade ago.

The DSA's evolution since Llewellyn's directorship (2001-2011) tells an fascinating story. Back then, getting Bernie Sanders elected to the Senate was their crown jewel. Now? They're potentially on the verge of installing their candidate as mayor of America's largest city.

I've spoken with numerous political strategists who see these developments as a watershed moment. Some business leaders are already sounding alarms – one Florida mayor even predicted a "substantial exodus" of NYC businesses under a Mamdani administration. But let's be clear: polling suggests Americans aren't uniformly opposed to all socialist-adjacent policies. There's substantial support for increased taxation on the wealthy, even as broader socialist ideology remains controversial.

The alliance between AOC, Sanders, and Mamdani – set to be showcased at an upcoming rally – represents something new in American politics. It's not just about individual candidates anymore; it's about a movement building real political infrastructure.

When my team reached out about these connections, AOC's office stayed silent. Llewellyn, however, didn't hesitate to confirm both his DSA lifetime membership and his role in Ocasio-Cortez's operation since her first run.

What we're witnessing might be more than just progressive politics as usual. It's the emergence of a sophisticated political network that's learned to operate effectively within the Democratic Party while maintaining its democratic socialist identity. Whether this represents a lasting shift in American politics remains to be seen, but it certainly warrants our attention.

The Growing Socialist Network in American Politics: A Closer LookThe intricate web connecting progressive politics and democratic socialism in America has become increasingly visible, particularly in New York City's political landscape. I've been tracking these developments closely, and recent revelations about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's campaign infrastructure have shed new light on the sophisticated organizing capacity of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).At the heart of this story lies Frank Llewellyn, whose role as treasurer for both AOC's campaign and PAC might seem unremarkable at first glance. But here's what makes this interesting: Llewellyn isn't just any political operative – he's the former national director of DSA and proudly claims "lifetime member" status. His compensation package, including those $1,281 biweekly payments, has totaled over $250,000 since 2018.What really catches my eye as a political analyst is the timing. This revelation coincides with DSA-backed Zohran Mamdani's surprising lead in NYC's mayoral race. During my years covering urban politics, I've rarely seen such explicit coordination between democratic socialist organizations and mainstream Democratic campaigns. Just consider DSA organizer Daniel Goulden's remarkably candid comment about being "like this" with Mamdani's campaign – a level of symbiosis that would have been unthinkable a decade ago.The DSA's evolution since Llewellyn's directorship (2001-2011) tells an fascinating story. Back then, getting Bernie Sanders elected to the Senate was their crown jewel. Now? They're potentially on the verge of installing their candidate as mayor of America's largest city.I've spoken with numerous political strategists who see these developments as a watershed moment. Some business leaders are already sounding alarms – one Florida mayor even predicted a "substantial exodus" of NYC businesses under a Mamdani administration. But let's be clear: polling suggests Americans aren't uniformly opposed to all socialist-adjacent policies. There's substantial support for increased taxation on the wealthy, even as broader socialist ideology remains controversial.The alliance between AOC, Sanders, and Mamdani – set to be showcased at an upcoming rally – represents something new in American politics. It's not just about individual candidates anymore; it's about a movement building real political infrastructure.When my team reached out about these connections, AOC's office stayed silent. Llewellyn, however, didn't hesitate to confirm both his DSA lifetime membership and his role in Ocasio-Cortez's operation since her first run.What we're witnessing might be more than just progressive politics as usual. It's the emergence of a sophisticated political network that's learned to operate effectively within the Democratic Party while maintaining its democratic socialist identity. Whether this represents a lasting shift in American politics remains to be seen, but it certainly warrants our attention.