Democratic Socialists Are Winning Big. Now They Want Action.

The Democratic Socialists of America (D.S.A.) say they are shifting from winning votes to pushing policy after strong results in New York City. During a sticky July evening, chapter leaders began planning the next campaign phase on Zoom, following victories that included toppling five incumbents and winning two House primaries, plus additional state legislative wins. The group’s next step is to pressure Gov. Kathy Hochul, a centrist Democrat, to raise income taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers when the Legislature meets in Albany in January. They previously failed to secure higher taxes, settling for a more limited tax on multimillion-dollar second homes in New York City. New York City’s D.S.A. chapter, active since the 1980s, claims it has added more than 7,000 members since Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral primary win and now totals roughly 15,000. Some members focus on recruiting Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for a 2028 presidential run, while others want broader initiatives including public safety, condemning Israel’s military actions via legislation, and a possible public takeover of a major utility company.