Democratic Socialists Triumph in New York Primaries
Democratic socialists achieved significant victories in New York's primaries on Tuesday, as two candidates affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) defeated establishment-backed Democrats in congressional primaries. Several other DSA members also won state legislative primaries, signaling that the movement is gaining momentum beyond last year's election of Zohran Mamdani as New York City mayor.
Wins Across Major Cities
The success is not confined to New York. In Washington, DC, DSA member Janeese Lewis George won a decisive victory in the Democratic mayoral primary last week, positioning her as the likely next mayor. In Seattle, Mayor Katie Wilson, who ousted incumbent Bruce Harrell last year, identifies as a democratic socialist. In Los Angeles, city council member Nithya Raman, a DSA member, advanced to a runoff against Mayor Karen Bass. The DSA has also elected members to city councils in New York, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Chicago, Portland (Oregon), San Antonio, and other cities, along with several state legislators in urban districts.
Challenges Beyond Urban Strongholds
However, winning outside deep-blue urban areas remains a challenge. In New York, establishment-backed Democrats easily turned back left challengers in the state comptroller race and in a competitive GOP-held House district. The DSA did not endorse in those races, likely due to low chances of success. Mamdani's statewide favorability ratings are not particularly high, even in a blue state like New York.
Why the DSA Is Gaining Ground in Cities
The rise of democratic socialists in cities follows a pattern: a discredited Democratic establishment, an energized opposition, and a base moving left. According to Asad Dandia, a public historian from Brooklyn, "The Democratic Party apparatus that has traditionally been responsible for providing goods and services and representation to the people has atrophied." The DSA has filled this gap with grassroots organizing, especially in New York. Pollster Adam Carlson noted, "The NYC DSA is the crown jewel of all the DSA networks around the country. My understanding is a lot of it’s just like hustle — they’re out in the community, they’re talking to people."
After some successes in the late 2010s, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's election, the Biden years brought stasis. But recent political shifts revived socialist prospects: the Israel-Gaza war became a moral litmus test, the failure to stop Trump's return to power, his immigration crackdown, and other crises spurred demand for change. Affordability and cost of living in the post-Covid economy hit millennials and zoomers in expensive cities hard. Dandia explained, "DSA largely comprises young people — people in their 20s and 30s — who are for the most part college-educated and renters. We don’t have access to the resources and the wealth and the necessities for us to achieve the American dream."
Democratic socialists have run younger, progressive "change" candidates who channel voter dissatisfaction with the establishment. Jordan Weissmann of the Progressive Policy Institute said, "You have an extremely energized left activist network that really knows how to put together a ground game, whereas on the moderate side there’s just a void. What’s the center-left organization that is supposed to provide any kind of counterweight to DSA? There’s none."
Can It Play Outside Cities?
Expanding beyond cities is difficult. DSA national co-chair Megan Romer acknowledged, "Predictably, our electoral victories map pretty closely onto blue cities and blue states, that’s not surprising. We’re not blind to this. It is something that is being worked on." Suburbs and rural areas are less Democratic, with older, less left-leaning voters who often own homes. Carlson noted, "Homeowners don’t want to rock the boat as much." Romer added, "We talk a lot about housing justice and housing policy, and that is mostly relevant to people who live in places with apartments and lots of landlords. We have to figure out, okay, what policies do we have that can work out here?" She suggested opposition to data centers as a possible issue. Carlson also cited logistical difficulties: "I’m not going to say it’s impossible. But as it stands right now, without some kind of national unifying force behind it, like a presidential campaign, or maybe a really compelling statewide campaign — it’s tough to see."
Governing Challenges Ahead
Even in cities, the long-term success of socialists is uncertain as they shift from opposition to governance. Can they address the cost-of-living crisis and manage basic services? Mamdani, aware of the stakes, identifies as a "sewer socialist," emphasizing competence in sanitation and health care. He has kept his predecessor's police chief and governed pragmatically. However, recent examples like San Francisco show that progressive governments can fail to deliver, leading to a moderate comeback. Mayor Daniel Lurie, who won in 2024, has maintained high approval ratings by focusing on public safety and housing affordability. Weissmann pointed out that "moderates really took time to organize and build a coherent vision to respond to the city’s problems." Being the "change" faction capitalizing on unhappiness is one thing; solving problems as the establishment is another. If socialists hope to succeed outside cities, they must first prove they can govern cities well.
