A New Chapter for American Communism
It’s a fresh start in U.S. politics.
After a 40-year break, the Communist Party USA (CPUSA) has re-entered the electoral arena, and they’ve already seen success. The three candidates they endorsed in the November 4 elections won positions in Maine, Massachusetts, and upstate New York. It’s notable—this marks the highest number of openly Communist candidates ever elected in the party’s 106-year history.
And yes, these are indeed your grandparents’ towns.
One former CPUSA candidate shared insights with the media. Founded in 1919 following the Russian Revolution, the party aligns closely with pro-Soviet and pro-China ideologies, believing in a Marxist-Leninist one-party state as a means to reach a “workers’ paradise.”
“The Communist Party believes we need to fundamentally change capitalism,” said Joe Sims, co-chairman of CPUSA, during an interview on a progressive show. He described today’s capitalist system, which has lifted billions from poverty, as “disgusting.”
He aimed to differentiate between his party and the Democratic Socialists of America, represented by NYC’s current mayor, Zoran Mamdani, asserting who truly embodies the working class’s interests.
On November 4, Daniel Carson, an ME CPUSA member, won one of three city council seats in Bangor. Meanwhile, Cambridge, Massachusetts, elected Brazilian immigrant Luisa de Paula Santos to its school board, recognized in CPUSA literature as a council member. In Ithaca, New York, 20-year-old Hannah Shvetz, a registered Communist, also made it onto the City Council.
“I think he flew under the radar,” remarked Chuck Ellis, a Maine resident closely following local politics. He pointed out how mainstream media often overlooks grassroots races. “Most people don’t even know the candidates in their own backyard.”
Ellis expressed that it’s unsurprising for such radical figures to win. “Candidates in this area typically seek independent-minded individuals,” he noted, suggesting a shift in voter mentality where a lukewarm stance doesn’t resonate anymore.
Shvetz advocates for various progressive policies, including increased housing density and reparations for Black citizens. Both Ithaca and Cambridge are known for their significant student populations. According to Benjamin Powell, an economics professor, there’s a resurgence of socialist sentiments among youth, attracted to ideals of equality, although many may not fully grasp what they’re endorsing.
“To Karl Marx and others who studied him, socialism was about government ownership of production or abolishing private property,” Powell clarified. “Most young people have a different, perhaps simplified, view of socialism.”
Interestingly, the recent Communist electoral push has been strategic. In April 2021, CPUSA declared its intention to participate in local elections, where candidates could run without party affiliation, a method utilized in Maine, New York, and Massachusetts, potentially keeping voters unaware of their Communist affiliations.
As party co-chairman Joe Sims stated, “You can’t call yourself a political party if you don’t have candidates.” Steven Estrada, a veteran who ran in Long Beach in 2021, was the first to openly represent CPUSA in years, even if he didn’t win his election.
Estrada has expressed his support for China, describing it as a progressive force, especially amidst a time when many Americans regard the country with skepticism.
Interestingly, Estrada has recently distanced himself from CPUSA, citing the party’s closeness with Democrats. He’s also expressed a certain respect for aspects of the “Make America Great Again” movement, suggesting it carries genuine populist sentiments from the working class.
He ultimately believes that the Communist Party could benefit from understanding Trump rather than solely criticizing him, noting that the support for MAGA largely comes from everyday working individuals who want their voices heard in Washington.
