The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are turning their attention to Colorado and Wisconsin after a string of primary victories in New York injected new energy into the progressive movement. The wins, which included ousting a top House Democrat, have emboldened the group to test its appeal beyond its traditional New York City stronghold.
In New York, DSA-backed candidates Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier won their Democratic primaries, with Avila Chevalier defeating Rep. Adriano Espaillat, a progressive and chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. These victories, along with the election of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani last year, have fueled what some call the “Mamdani effect.”
“New York City is reflecting where the whole country is going,” said Ashik Siddique, DSA co-chair. “Candidates running on strong progressive platforms can win in red or purple states, in the Midwest and the South.” The DSA, a nonprofit activist group with over 100,000 members nationwide, aims to transform American politics through progressive change and a rejection of capitalist structures.
However, the socialist primary wins in New York have sparked debate about their broader implications. Analysts at the Cook Political Report caution that victories in deeply liberal districts don’t necessarily signal strength in competitive races Democrats need to win back Congress. “Races in the most liberal districts don’t tell us much about the left’s strength in competitive contests,” they wrote.
The DSA’s momentum isn’t unbroken. In Maryland, state Senate President Bill Ferguson defeated a DSA-aligned challenger, and in New York, Assemblymember Jordan Wright beat a DSA opponent. In Utah, former Rep. Ben McAdams won a primary against a slate of progressives, including a candidate backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders. After his loss, that candidate joined the DSA, highlighting the group’s growing but uneven influence.
“We need more races and data to determine if this is more than a moment inspired by a generational talent like Zohran Mamdani,” said Wisconsin Democratic strategist Joe Zepecki, calling the excitement “overblown.” He noted that capturing such lightning again is tough.
The next test comes in Colorado, where 29-year-old Melat Kiros, backed by Sanders and the DSA, is challenging 68-year-old Rep. Diana DeGette in the 1st Congressional District. DeGette, a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the state’s longest-serving lawmaker, faces a serious challenge in a district with an influx of young, college-educated voters.
In August, the Detroit DSA branch is supporting state lawmaker Donavan McKinney against Rep. Shri Thanedar in Michigan’s 13th District. Meanwhile, in Wisconsin, state lawmaker Francesca Hong, 37, is running for governor in an open race to succeed retiring Gov. Tony Evers. Sparse polling shows a surge of momentum for Hong, who placed second behind Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez in a straw poll at the state Democratic convention. Backed by Madison and Milwaukee DSA branches, Hong’s potential primary win would be a “huge bellwether” and a “next-level” achievement, according to Siddique, putting her on track to become the country’s first socialist governor.
Some observers argue that DSA success stems from voters’ hunger for change rather than the group’s specific platform, which includes abolishing the two-party system and increasing House seats. The upcoming races in Colorado and Wisconsin will test whether the DSA can translate New York’s energy into broader national influence.
