The NYC chapter of the largest socialist organization in the U.S., the Democratic Socialists of America – DSA. (Credit: public domain)
The Democratic Socialists of America have adopted a strategy to exploit the Democratic Party’s ballot access to boost their own candidates at the expense of incumbents, a plan which achieved remarkable success in New York City this week.
The victory of two DSA-backed candidates and one former member delivered a shock to the Democratic Party establishment, which has begun to call for better policing of the party’s primaries against candidates who are only seeking to exploit it, not join it.
“I say this with no ill will or animosity: if you hate the Democratic Party, then please don’t run for our nomination,” said Jaime Harrison, who served as the Democratic National Committee Chairman from 2021 to 2025.
“Don’t use our resources. Don’t rely on our volunteers. Don’t use our infrastructure. Don’t ask Democrats to invest their time, money, and energy in your campaign,” he added. “Focus on building the party you actually support.”
The DSA – which calls for abandoning capitalism, defunding the police, and nationalizing key industrial sectors – has long publicly stated its intent to do just that.
(…) The platform: Abolishing ICE, ending deportations, opposing the state of Israel, Medicare for all, and creating federal job guarantees
The candidates centered their campaigns on radical changes that have become the calling card of a new brand of socialist Democrats. Their platform includes abolishing ICE, ending deportations, opposing the state of Israel, implementing Medicare for all, and creating federal job guarantees.
In Washington, D.C., Janeese Lewis George, another DSA member, is poised to become the next mayor of the nation’s capital city. In Los Angeles, DSA-backed Nithya Raman has advanced to a runoff election against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass.
The rapid success of these socialist candidates within the Democratic Party primary system has alarmed many establishment and traditional Democrats.