The already-fractured DNC is having an identity crisis. While establishment Democrats Nancy Pelosi (CA) and Chuck Schumer (NY) battle it out with Maxine Waters (CA) over anti-Trump activism, the party is now mounting support for their new rising star - Democratic Socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, after the 28-year-old political neophyte unseated the 4th most powerful Democrat in Congress last month in an upset primary win.

Ocasio-Cortez, a dues-paying member of Democratic Socialists of America (whose leadership has been openly calling for communism) - says that the US should abolish the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE), while also claiming that illegal aliens deserve a "right of passage" into the United States.

And despite being called out recently for projecting a blue collar "girl from the Bronx" image while growing up in a wealthy enclave, Democratic National Committee chairman Tom Perez told progressive radio host Bill Press Tuesday that Ocasio-Cortez represents "the future of our party."

Press: There was a primary in several states. Your home state of Maryland and also up in New York where the 4th most powerful Democrat in the United States, Congressman Joe Crowley was knocked out by a young woman, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez­­­ - 28 years old - never ran for office before - big progressive - calls herself a Democratic socialist, actually like Bernie Sanders did – she was a Bernie Sanders supporter, and in Maryland, Ben Jealous another strong progressive wins the Democratic nomination for governor. What’s this tell you about where the Democratic Party is going today? Perez: Well, my daughters – I have 3 kids, two of whom are daughters, one just graduated college, one is in college, and they were both texting me about their excitement over Alexandria because, you know, she really represents the future of our party. She ran a spirited campaign.

DNC Chair Tom Perez proudly declares Socialist Ocasio-Cortez is “the future of our party!" pic.twitter.com/38VnHBdboX — Josh Caplan (@joshdcaplan) July 3, 2018

And while "Democratic insurgents" (as the Washington Post calls them) want to abolish ICE, the rest of the Democratic party is not behind her. Not even Bernie Sanders would commit to the notion.

On Sunday morning, CNN’s Jake Tapper put the question to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.): Did the senator, a democratic socialist and 2016 presidential candidate, the most prominent left-wing politician in the country, want to abolish ICE? “I think what we need is to create policies which deal with immigration in a rational way,” Sanders said, evading the topic of ICE itself. -Washington Post

She wants to abolish ICE, offer free college tuition and Medicare for all. Meet @Ocasio2018, the 28-year-old progressive on her way to Congress. pic.twitter.com/NepaTNdVDO — AJ+ (@ajplus) July 1, 2018

And until Ocasio-Cortez clarifies her positions vs. the Democratic Socialists of America, this is the future of the Democratic party.