09/27/2026
This article was published in the September 2026 issue of Socialism Today.
"Several members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and DSA-backed candidates had high-profile wins in Democratic Party primaries ahead of this year’s midterms. These campaigns are running on progressive demands like Medicare-for-all and as anti-ICE, anti-genocide candidates. NYC DSA members Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier were vocally pro-Palestinian, as were Melat Kiros in Colorado and Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan.
As Trump’s approval ratings drop to an all-time low (33%), and as support for the Democratic Party has in the last year soured to its lowest point in 35 years as well (also at 33%), the DSA-driven “progressive” campaigns direct the fight against Trump and the cost-of-living crisis to reforming the Democratic Party, or trying to move it to the left.
Big money has already been thrown against these campaigns. $70 million was spent trying to defeat Abdul El-Sayed (a non-DSA Democrat and self-proclaimed capitalist), and over $30 million of that by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) alone. Since his win, the think tank Third Way announced plans to spend $15 million to “discredit democratic socialism.” Tech, AI, and online gaming companies have put $294 million toward campaigns so far, and AIPAC $67+ million. Elon Musk alone plans to spend $90+ million. The current total spent on Congressional elections – $517+ million – far surpasses that of the 2024 elections, which totaled $461 million. All political spending this election cycle is expected to reach a record $11.6 billion, above 2024’s record-breaking $11.4 billion.
Despite both wins and losses, DSA and DSA-backed candidates are reassuring the Democratic Party that at the end of the day, their goal is to keep the party united. In the Wisconsin race for governor, Francesca Hong, despite a narrow loss to David Crowley by 0.5%, swiftly backed her opponent: “I fully support him and look forward to working with him to defeat [Republican] Congressman Tiffany in November.” El-Sayed: “We all have the same goal, which is to defeat Mike Rogers…Whatever our differences around how the Democratic Party should look…we do know that we have to beat Trump, we do know that we have to take back the Senate…and I’m looking forward to figuring out how to work together to make that happen.” DSA member Oliver Larkin, in discussing how voters will have to register as Democrats to participate in the Florida primaries: “This is DSA broadening the tent and bringing people into the fold.” Chevalier, even on the campaign trail, said of whether she voted for Biden in 2020 despite her criticisms of him: “I still took one for the team and voted.”
In an interview on “This Week,” Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said: “I think that we are in a time of renewal for the Democratic Party….I think that this really is a moment, not just in Michigan, but across the country, where the party is unifying…..Democrats have a responsibility to build a winning coalition.” (8/9/2026)
But where should we expect these primary wins to go, and what will they achieve?"
by Peggy WangMassachusetts Teachers Association, personal capacityBoston, MA Several members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and DSA-backed candidates had high-profile wins in Democra…
