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← Signal: State & Power

Progressive candidates navigate complex relationship with Democratic Socialists of America ahead of midterms

Confirmed1 source · Sep 5, 2026

As DSA-aligned candidates win primaries and the group's membership surges to 120,000, candidates in swing states are carefully managing their affiliation with the organization while adopting some of its policy priorities.

Progressive candidates navigate complex relationship with Democratic Socialists of America ahead of midterms
Image via The Guardian

What happened

Progressive candidates across the country are running for office with varying degrees of connection to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Some, like Michigan Senate primary winner Abdul El-Sayed, adopt DSA policy priorities—universal healthcare, labor rights, removing money from politics—but explicitly reject the socialist label and DSA membership. Others, including New York's Claire Valdez, Colorado's Melat Kiros, and Pennsylvania's Chris Rabb, carry official DSA endorsements. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the politician most associated with DSA, rejoined the New York City chapter after a seven-year lapse. DSA membership has soared to 120,000 in recent months, and the group's candidates won nine out of 10 races in which the group had fielded candidates in New York City in June, prompting a $15 million centrist Democratic counteroffensive and a House Republican resolution condemning socialism and naming the DSA.

Context

The DSA's rise reflects a decade of voter frustration with Democratic failures and the popularization of once-radical positions like taxing the rich. The organization has become, in the words of one analyst, a 'shorthand for rebellion against Democratic party leadership,' with polling showing that one-third of Democrats now openly identify as socialist. This shift has created strategic tension: candidates in swing states like Michigan and Florida face pressure to distance themselves from the DSA label to appeal to moderate voters, while those in blue states can align more openly with the group. The tension within the DSA itself—between pragmatism and adherence to more radical goals like abolishing the Senate or borders—reflects broader debate within the party about whether bold messaging or moderation will drive Democratic success.