A historic number of socialists have been elected to lead American cities, state legislatures, and Congress following recent progressive wins across the US. Members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are among those who have swept into power.
Nithya Raman and Janeese Lewis George, both DSA members, were elected to lead Los Angeles, the second-largest US city, and Washington DC, the capital, respectively. Additionally, David Morales and Yousef Rabhi, also DSA members, were elected mayors of Providence, Rhode Island, and Ann Arbor, Michigan. These new mayors will join others in smaller cities like Burlington, Vermont, and Irvine, California, as well as Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist mayor of New York, the largest US city.
Zohran Mamdani, whose election is credited with inspiring a surge in democratic socialists taking office, has focused on delivering campaign promises such as a rent freeze, universal childcare, and taxing the rich. Incoming DSA mayors, similar to Mamdani, have run campaigns centred on affordability and practical improvements. Raman has promised more housing and public transit, Lewis George has campaigned on universal childcare and public housing, Morales has pitched affordable housing, and Rabhi has pledged to fight data centres and keep utilities affordable.
Come January, the number of DSA members in Congress will have quadrupled to eight, and more than 100 DSA-endorsed candidates will hold local, state, and national office. DSA mayors are seen to have a unique opportunity to demonstrate that the group's ideals of affordability and inclusivity can improve the lives of working people.