The Rise of the Democratic Socialists of America
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has undergone significant transformation over the past forty years, evolving from a smaller activist organization into a prominent faction within the Democratic Party.
Currently, DSA is poised to have its largest congressional team ever, with several members triumphing in primaries against established Democrats. The group’s influence has notably increased within the mainstream Democratic framework, especially after recent wins in New York and Colorado.
Founded in 1982 from the merger of the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee and the New American Movement, DSA initially sought to steer the Democratic Party toward greater leftist principles, emphasizing welfare state initiatives, union rights, and social justice.
Back then, the group had around 6,000 members. Its aim was to forge a coalition encompassing feminists, racial minorities, trade unionists, and socialists to counteract social conservatism and the so-called “pro-war” labor movement. DSA prioritized activism over holding political office, engaging in social justice initiatives both domestically and internationally, even participating in anti-apartheid and anti-intervention marches in 1987.
According to their records, DSA spearheaded the “single-payer” movement, commonly known as “Medicare for All,” during the 1990s, providing a counter-narrative to then-President Bill Clinton’s approach to affordable private insurance. Members transitioned from advocating for “Medicare for All” to collaborating on a congressional bill to formally implement it.
In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, DSA broadened its anti-war agenda to include protests against the Iraq and Afghanistan wars led by then-President George W. Bush.
A pivotal moment came in 2016 with independent Senator Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign, even though he wasn’t a DSA member. His candidacy triggered a surge in membership from 6,000 to around 80,000, largely driven by younger voters. DSA shifted its focus to issues like student debt, housing, wage increases, and socialized healthcare—topics that resonated with young progressives.
Sanders’ run opened doors for democratic socialist candidates in mainstream politics, enabling them to secure positions in Congress. DSA’s strategy became more assertive, endorsing figures like Democratic New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who further integrated DSA principles into the Democratic Party following her election victory in 2018.
Sanders also played a significant role in normalizing Medicare for All during his campaigns in 2016 and 2020. Ocasio-Cortez, alongside Democratic Senator Ed Markey from Massachusetts, proposed the Green New Deal, a substantial initiative aimed at achieving net-zero emissions in the U.S. within ten years.
Ocasio-Cortez has sponsored Medicare for All legislation and advocated for raising the minimum wage and various leftist policies. Rashida Tlaib, a Democratic congresswoman from Michigan, is another notable figure who identifies as a democratic socialist.
Recently, DSA has experienced several electoral victories, including those of Democratic New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani, who won against former Governor Andrew Cuomo in November 2025. Mamdani has called for a $30-an-hour minimum wage and the establishment of government-operated transportation and grocery services, as well as the abolishment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Support from Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez was crucial for Mamdani leading up to the election. Additionally, Mamdani-backed candidates, Dalializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez, won parliamentary elections in late June. Initial analysis of primary voting data indicates that young, educated voters in urban areas constitute the main support base for these candidates.
Chevalier has faced scrutiny due to tweets from 2020 to 2022 that critiqued the lack of communist literature in libraries and commented on pop culture’s view of anti-communism.
In a significant win for DSA, Democratic Congressional candidate Melat Quiros, 29, defeated incumbent Congresswoman Diana DeGette in Colorado’s 1st Congressional District. DeGette had served there since January 1997, marking a notable shift.
Interestingly, DSA has opted not to back former President Joe Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential election.
Early DSA leaders, like Michael Harrington, had an anti-Israel stance, which starkly contrasts with the modern organization, now often accused of being overly critical of Israel in light of the Gaza conflict. This shift became more pronounced in the 2010s, as groups like Black Lives Matter and Occupy Wall Street highlighted the Palestinian cause in relation to social justice and imperialism.
Mamdani faced backlash in 2025 for not distancing himself from the phrase “globalizing the intifada,” seen by many as promoting violence against Jews. Quiros also faced criticism for an open letter in late 2023, condemning Israel.
In November 2023, the House of Representatives reprimanded Tlaib for her use of the phrase “from the river to the sea,” which critics interpret as a call to erase Israel. Tlaib has publicly criticized Biden’s support for Israel and participated in various rallies against Israeli policy.
As the DSA grows, some conservatives downplay its impact, hoping to leverage this for Republican gains in upcoming elections. Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon has suggested that DSA should be taken more seriously.
Bannon remarked, “They are a state power. They’ve been working behind the scenes to refine their strategies for ground operations and recruitment. It’s too late for Democrats to mimic that.”
