Politics
DSA‑Affiliated Candidates Secure Record Wins in U.S. Midterms
By Umar Farooq
A record number of candidates backed by or affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) won federal offices in the November 3 midterm elections, the most successful night the left‑leaning movement has had in national politics. National Electoral Commission member Chanpreet Singh said on a livestream that the results were unprecedented in over a hundred years of socialist electoral activity. The stream, hosted by commentator Hasan Piker on Twitch, attracted more than 200,000 viewers. The DSA, which saw a surge in membership in 2016 during Senator Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign, now counts over 120,000 members in chapters across all 50 states. Members vote on which candidates to support in federal, state and local contests. Many endorsed candidates share positions on core issues such as the war in Gaza, universal healthcare and immigration. In New York State, three DSA‑aligned candidates were elected to the U.S. House for the first time: Claire Valdez, Darializa Avila Chevalier and Brad Lander. Representative Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez was re‑elected. Chevalier, who worked on Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s 2025 campaign, has organized pro‑Palestinian protests and opposed Israel’s war on Gaza. In Michigan, DSA member Rashida Tlaib was re‑elected to the House, Donavan McKinney won a seat for the first time, and William Lawrence defeated a Republican challenger in a highly competitive race. Colorado’s new representative, 29‑year‑old Ethiopian immigrant Melat Kiros, who has spoken against Israel’s war on Gaza and called for the abolition of ICE, won her seat with a wide margin. In Philadelphia, former state lawmaker Chris Rabb was elected to the House for the first time. Los Angeles’ Angela Gonzales‑Torres defeated a Democratic incumbent for a congressional seat. New Jersey’s Adam Hamawy, a former Army medical doctor and Gaza surgeon, won a district; although not a DSA member, he aligned with the movement and campaigned alongside DSA‑backed candidates.
Frequently asked questions
How many viewers watched the livestream of the DSA election results?
The livestream hosted by Hasan Piker on Twitch attracted more than 200,000 viewers.
How many members does the Democratic Socialists of America have across the United States?
The DSA now counts over 120,000 members in chapters across all 50 states.
Who is the new Colorado representative backed by the DSA?
29‑year‑old Ethiopian immigrant Melat Kiros won the seat with a wide margin.