AOC employs former socialist boss to handle campaign cash

FIRST ON FOX: The former senior leader and “life member” of the Democratic Socialists of America has been on the payroll of “Squad” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s (D-N.Y.) campaign since she first ran for Congress in 2018.

Frank Llewellyn, the former executive of the largest socialist organization in America and a founding member of the socialist group that later became DSA’s sister organization, serves as treasurer of both Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign and her political action committee, Courage to Change.

Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign paid Llewellyn more than $250,000 in total for payroll, travel and other administrative expenses dating back to 2018. Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings Reviewed by Fox News Digital. Payments range from $77.50 for cell phone, travel and internet fees to $1,281 in stipend payments approximately every two weeks.

In addition to working on Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign, Llewellyn also sits on the board of the Democratic Socialists of America Fund, a sister organization of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), according to the group’s website.

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“Frank Llewellyn was one of the original founders of the Institute for Democratic Socialism, which later became the Fund for Democratic Socialists of America.” DSA Fund website he says. “A lifelong activist and socialist, he has served the Democratic Socialists of America in New York City since the organization’s founding. He served on the organization’s National Political Committee and as National Director for over a decade.”

Llewellyn served as DSA’s national director for more than a decade, from 2001 to 2011. Llewellyn confirmed to Fox News Digital that he remains a “life member” of the DSA and has been on Ocasio-Cortez’s staff since her primary election in 2018.

One of DSA’s most notable achievements during Llewellyn’s time as director was the 2006 Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., was the pick. Llewellyn wrote an article in DSA magazine celebrating Sanders’ election for the first time in American history: “A self-proclaimed socialist has won a seat in the United States Senate.” In the article, Llewellyn detailed DSA’s deep involvement in Sanders’ campaign, saying that fundraising for his successful campaign “was a major accomplishment of which we can be very proud.”

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Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, DY, greet the crowd together during the “Oligarchic Struggle” tour event at Arizona State University on Thursday, March 20, 2025 in Tempe, Ariz. (Ross D. Franklin)

“Going forward, it is vital that we use our newly gained grassroots network and ties to truly progressive Democrats and Bernie Sanders to promote both a progressive agenda and progressive organizing,” Llewellyn wrote.

The organization subsequently continued to support Sanders during both the 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns.

A review of Llewellyn’s social media shows that he remains an active member of the Queens chapter of the New York City DSA. She regularly posts about Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders, as well as New York City socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, who is also an active member of DSA. In a 2021 Facebook post, Llewellyn said he was “very pleased to vote in support of the Queen’s DSA.” [Mamdani]”When he successfully ran for the New York State Assembly

Even though Mamdani has a double-digit lead in the New York City mayoral race, sparking concerns about the rise of socialism in America, a recent Fox News national poll found that capitalism remains more popular than socialism. However, voters expressed support for increasing taxes on the wealthy.

Fox News Digital previously reported on DSA’s outsized influence on the Mamdani campaign; This was highlighted by how DSA members discussed how they were working closely with Mamdani at a panel in July and how the organization was positioned to “seize state power”.

DSA organizer Daniel Goulden claimed the organization was closely involved in Mamdani’s campaign, even helping to write parts of her platform.

“We’re basically in the best possible position to seize state power with Zohran because, you know, that’s who we are,” Goulden said, pointing out that the campaign and the organization are very close. he said.

“One of the things that has made Zohran really successful at implementing policy is his particular reliance on DSA,” Goulden continued.“

AOC and Sanders, who both claim to be democratic socialists, have both endorsed and supported Mamdani’s campaign. attend a rally with him next Sunday.

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Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. and New York City Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani hold hands during the city hall’s “Fighting the Oligarchy” event at Brooklyn College on September 6, 2025. (ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

The national DSA organization and its affiliates, including NYC-DSA, have shared their views on a variety of issues on which they have been vocal, including their disdain for ICE and cracking down on “bad landlords” by having the city take control of properties if a landlord refuses to make repairs or “persistently neglects” their tenants.

Earlier this year, Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders embarked on a “Fight the Oligarchy” tour against the “billionaire class and corporate greed,” which drew more than 300,000 attendees at 34 rallies in 20 states, according to Sanders.

Ocasio-Cortez has faced criticism for gathering thousands of people at boutique hotels during the tour. Sanders also faced backlash after Fox News Digital revealed he flew him and AOC on private jets, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars while on tour.

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Fox News Digital reached out to Ocasio-Cortez’s office and the DSA for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Fox News Digital’s Deirdre Heavey, Andrew Mark Miller and Victoria Balara contributed to this report.