DSA Surveys 250 Chapters on 2028 Candidate as New York Wins Fuel Presidential Push
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jun 24
DSA Surveys 250 Chapters on 2028 Candidate as New York Wins Fuel Presidential Push
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jun 24
Summary
DSA is sending surveys to all 250 chapters this summer, asking members to recommend a 2028 presidential candidate and explain why, with responses due by Sept. 15.
The group plans national discussions with figures including Zohran Mamdani and Bernie Sanders before a formal vote at its 2027 convention, though leaders say they could accelerate if the primary calendar forces it.
Tuesday’s New York primaries gave the effort momentum after Mamdani-backed candidates won three high-profile House races, adding to recent DSA gains in Philadelphia, Washington and Seattle.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez looms over the process, but DSA leaders say even its best-known figure would need to win support from roughly 110,000 members rather than receive an automatic endorsement.
The push tests whether democratic socialists can turn urban organizing strength into a national 2028 force despite doubts from moderates about the left’s appeal in battleground and rural districts.
How will the DSA's grassroots organizing model adapt for the scale of a national presidential campaign?
What does the search for a 2028 candidate reveal about the future of member-driven political movements?
Democratic Socialists of America Surpass 100,000 Members: Transforming Democratic Party Dynamics Ahead of 2028 Election
Overview
By mid-2026, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has rapidly grown from just 5,000 members in 2016 to over 100,000, marking a major shift in its influence within the Democratic Party. Energized by Senator Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign, the DSA now sees its recent electoral victories as the start of a larger movement, not isolated events. At its biennial convention, the DSA made clear its ambition to take charge and play a leading role in shaping the party’s direction, aiming to significantly impact the 2028 presidential election and beyond.