DSA Celebrates Election Gains and Sets Out National Priorities
The Democratic Socialists of America celebrated what leaders called its biggest election success at a national call held after Election Day. The group said its candidates won 74% of the races it endorsed, including eight House seats, 62 state legislative seats and 22 municipal positions. Three newly elected House members joined the call: Claire Valdez of New York, Chris Raab of Pennsylvania and Angela Gonzalez-Torres of California.
Speakers discussed plans to oppose U.S. arms sales to Israel and disrupt weapons production and shipping. DSA national political committee member Francesca Maviglia described the effort as a “people’s arms embargo.” Valdez said she intended to keep Palestine on the agenda in Congress and predicted major fights in the coming year.
The call also featured immigration and local policing campaigns. Houston DSA co-chair Jasmine Khadem Gonzalez said Texas organizers wanted to end local police cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and make Houston a sanctuary city. Austin chapter leader Clarisse Manuel said activists were opposing surveillance cameras.
The group also counted three mayoral wins, in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Ann Arbor, Michigan, and 34 ballot measures among its election results. Leaders described the results as a platform for further organizing and legislative fights.
DSA Wins Show Progressive Organizing Can Deliver
The Democratic Socialists of America marked a major election advance at its first national gathering since Election Day, with leaders saying the group’s endorsed candidates won 74% of their races. The results included eight House seats, 62 state legislative seats and 22 municipal posts, as well as three mayoralties and 34 ballot measures.
Three newly elected House members joined the call. Claire Valdez of New York said Palestine would remain a focus in Congress and anticipated significant legislative battles. DSA activists also discussed organizing against arms sales to Israel, including efforts aimed at weapons manufacturing and shipping.
The group’s local campaigns put immigration enforcement and surveillance in the spotlight. Houston DSA co-chair Jasmine Khadem Gonzalez called for ending local police cooperation with ICE and making Houston a sanctuary city. Austin activists, meanwhile, opposed surveillance cameras.
For DSA leaders, the results were a mandate to keep building political power and pressing for change at the local and federal levels. Their agenda challenges approaches that leave arms policy, immigration enforcement and policing untouched.
DSA Uses Midterm Wins to Advance a Radical Agenda
The Democratic Socialists of America used its first national meeting since Election Day to celebrate a strong showing and promote an expansive political agenda. The organization said endorsed candidates won 74% of their races, including eight House seats, 62 state legislative seats and 22 municipal positions.
Three incoming House members took part in the call. DSA leaders discussed efforts to oppose U.S. arms sales to Israel, with one national committee member describing a campaign to disrupt weapons production and shipping. Valdez of New York said the issue would be taken up in Congress, where she expected major fights ahead.
The organization also highlighted campaigns against local police cooperation with ICE and surveillance cameras. Houston DSA co-chair Jasmine Khadem Gonzalez said activists wanted Houston to become a sanctuary city, while an Austin chapter leader described efforts against cameras.
The results give DSA organizers a larger foothold in public office and a route to pursue these priorities through government and local campaigns. The group’s critics see that growth as a challenge to established policy on Israel, immigration enforcement and policing.
Reported by New York Post, The Washington Examiner.
