Nevada U.S. Representative Susie Lee has joined 14 other centrist House Democrats in signing a pledge declaring their opposition to socialism, a move that puts her among a growing bloc of Democrats pushing the party toward the political center.
The Pledge
The declaration, organized by a group called Promise to America, bears the statement “We are capitalist, not socialist.” It was created earlier this month with involvement from Representatives Tom Suozzi of New York and Adam Gray of California. New Jersey Representative Josh Gottheimer also signed the document.
Promise to America announced Lee’s participation in its first post on the social platform X.
Lee, who serves as vice-chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus and as House Democrats’ “Battleground Leadership” representative, framed her position in economic terms. “We must lower costs and expand opportunities for hardworking families across our country — the only way to do that is by being bipartisan,” she said in a statement.
Primary Context
The pledge signing follows Lee’s June 9 Democratic primary, in which she defeated James Lally, a physician and self-described progressive, by a wide margin. Lee secured 69% of the vote, a result that reinforced her standing as the dominant figure in her district despite pressure from the left.
Lee’s primary victory and subsequent pledge come as Nevada voters have consistently ranked food, housing, and gas costs among their top concerns — pressures that centrist Democrats argue are best addressed through cross-party legislating rather than structural economic change.
Broader Party Tensions
The pledge reflects ongoing ideological friction within the Democratic Party. In New York, three candidates backed by Democratic Socialists of America — aligned with Mayor Zohran Mamdani — won primaries, illustrating the left’s continued electoral strength in some urban areas even as centrists push back.
The 15 signatories represent a centrist counterweight to that trend, making the case that the party’s path to winning competitive districts runs through economic moderation rather than democratic socialist policy platforms.
Promise to America described its approach as “the path forward for the Democratic Party and our Country,” signaling an intent to expand the effort beyond the initial group of signers.
Lee holds one of the more competitive House seats in Nevada, and her positioning as a bipartisan dealmaker has long been central to her political identity. Her role in the Problem Solvers Caucus places her in regular contact with Republican members on budget and cost-of-living issues — the same issues she cited in explaining her support for the pledge.