Democratic Socialists Capture City Hall and Congressional Primaries

In June 2026 New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani celebrated three of his endorsed candidates winning nominations for U.S. House seats and five state-legislature races. Seattle elected Katie Wilson, Washington DC’s primary will deliver Janeese Lewis George, and Los Angeles incumbent Karen Bass faces a runoff against DSA member Nithya Raman.

The Guardian

The Democratic Socialists of America grew from roughly 5,000 members a decade ago to over 100,000 across 200 chapters, after backlash to the 2016 Sanders campaign and the 2020 Trump presidency. DSA candidates now run within the Democratic Party, differentiating themselves from liberal Democrats who accept capitalism’s framework.

The Hill

Mamdani (New York), Wilson (Seattle), Lewis George (Washington DC) and Raman (Los Angeles) are the elected officials; New York’s rent-guidelines board froze rents for nearly 1 million apartments, repaired 165,000 potholes and launched free childcare for 2-year-olds. A “pied-à-terre tax” on non-primary homes funds municipal services. Polls show 66 % of Democrats view socialism positively, 42 % view capitalism favorably, and 61 % of liberal Democrats favor the DSA.

Christian Science Monitor

Mamdani presented victories as proof democratic socialism can deliver services, citing rent freezes, childcare and infrastructure repairs. DSA co-chair Megan Romer emphasized the shift from canvassing to policy expertise. Ashik Siddique described the movement’s aim to transform society through decision-making. Establishment Democrats issued an open letter saying “We are capitalist, not socialist,” and Senator Richard Blumenthal warned New York’s model “will be irrelevant by the midterms.”

The Hill

Moderate Democrats argue DSA proposals—defunding police, abolishing prisons, sweeping tax reforms—risk destabilizing institutions. The Los Angeles DSA chapter has not formally endorsed its mayoral candidate, reflecting internal debate. Critics note the pied-à-terre tax and city-owned grocery store plans lack state approval.

The Hill

Sources differ on the progress of city-owned grocery stores and on the statewide feasibility of the pied-à-terre tax. No data yet assess the long-term fiscal impact of the rent-freeze policy.

The Hill

Los Angeles will hold a mayoral runoff in November 2026, Washington DC’s mayoral election occurs the same month, and Michigan’s August 4 2026 Senate primary pits progressive Abdul El-Sayed against establishment contenders. DSA leaders are discussing a potential 2028 presidential bid, with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez frequently mentioned.

Christian Science Monitor

• “It’s not just the knocking of the doors and the phone banking and getting out the vote, but also, like, what does it look like once we’re in office?” — Megan Romer, DSA national co-chair

The Guardian

• “The effort to nationalize New York is going to fail. What’s happening in New York will be really irrelevant by the time of the [midterm] elections in November.” — Richard Blumenthal, U.S. Senator (CT)

The Guardian

• “We’ve delivered free childcare for two-year-olds for the first time in New York history,” — Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City

The Guardian

• “We’re out to transform society in a very basic way across the board, but we want to do it with everybody making decisions together as much as possible,” — Ashik Siddique, DSA co-chair

The Hill