Uthmeier subpoenas DSA over alleged Cuba and China funding links
The Florida Attorney General's office launched its inquiry one week after a DSA-backed candidate secured a legislative seat.
By Alessia Desai ·
Attorney General James Uthmeier has issued a formal subpoena to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
The legal demand arrives just seven days after DSA-backed Democrat Ashley Herrmann defeated Republican incumbent Danny Alvarez for Florida House District 69 in Hillsborough County. Uthmeier stated that his office is investigating whether the organization accepted support from foreign regimes in Cuba and China. He also questioned whether fundraising from Florida donors followed all state laws.
The probe centers on a March delegation trip to Cuba. A group of DSA members, including those from Florida, joined a coalition with Code Pink and Progressive International on the Nuestra America convoy. The group reportedly delivered medical supplies, school materials, and solar panels to the island. Delegation members met with Cuban government officials during the visit.
State law now restricts nonprofit funding sources. Senate Bill 700, passed in 2025, prohibits Florida nonprofits from accepting donations from entities associated with foreign countries of concern. The list includes China, Cuba, North Korea, Russia, Iran, Syria, and the Venezuelan government. The bill cites the removal of President Nicholas Maduro by U.S. armed forces in January as context for the Venezuela designation.
The timing of the subpoena follows a rapid expansion of the DSA movement. The organization gained momentum after Zohran Mamdani won the New York mayoral election in the fall of 2025. Last week, six DSA candidates won seats in the U.S. Congress. Herrmann's victory in District 69 marked the first time a DSA-backed candidate won a seat in the Florida Legislature.
Uthmeier ran for attorney general for the first time last week. He defeated Democrat José Javier Rodríguez by a margin of less than two percentage points. A member of the Florida DSA chapter said the organization received the inquiry. The chapter has not yet provided a formal response to the subpoena.
The legal action places a national political movement under state scrutiny in its most active state. The outcome will determine if Florida's new foreign influence laws apply to existing advocacy groups with international delegations.
