Democratic Socialists of America Secure Record Federal Seats in Midterm Elections

The left-wing movement has gained significant political traction, particularly on its stance on issues like the war in Gaza and universal healthcare.

Published On 4 Nov 20264 Nov 2026

A record number of candidates backed by or affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) secured victories in Tuesday’s US midterm elections, marking the most successful electoral night for the left-leaning movement in national politics to date.

“This is a record for the DSA; these are numbers we have not seen in over a hundred years in socialist electoral activity,” National Electoral Commission member Chanpreet Singh stated during a livestream on Tuesday night following the elections. The broadcast, hosted by political commentator Hasan Piker, drew over 200,000 viewers on Twitch.

The political group experienced a surge in membership in 2016, when Vermont’s US Senator Bernie Sanders, a prominent DSA member, ran for president. While unsuccessful, his campaign brought the movement’s key views on universal healthcare and housing to a broader audience. The election of Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York City in 2025 further elevated the DSA’s profile and membership.

Today, the movement boasts more than 120,000 members across chapters in all 50 states. Members vote to determine which candidates to endorse in elections, ranging from federal contests for the US Congress to state and local races. Many endorsed candidates share core views on issues such as the war in Gaza, healthcare, and immigration.

Here is a look at where DSA-affiliated candidates won federal offices on November 3:

In New York State, three candidates either officially endorsed by the chapter or closely affiliated with the DSA were elected to the US House of Representatives for the first time: Claire Valdez, Darializa Avila Chevalier, and Brad Lander. Additionally, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was re-elected to her seat. Chevalier, who worked on Mamdani’s mayoral campaign, has helped organize pro-Palestinian protests and has been vocal in her opposition to Israel’s war on Gaza.

In Michigan, DSA member Rashida Tlaib was re-elected to her seat in the US House, while member Donavan McKinney won election to the body for the first time. Additionally, William Lawrence defeated a Republican candidate in a highly competitive US House race.

Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old immigrant from Ethiopia who has been outspoken in opposing Israel’s military actions in Gaza and calling for the abolition of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), was elected to represent Colorado in the House by a wide margin.

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, voters elected Chris Rabb, a former state lawmaker, to the US House for the first time.

On the West Coast in Los Angeles, California, Angela Gonzales-Torres defeated a Democratic incumbent to win a seat in the US House.

Adam Hamawy, a former US Army medical doctor who served as a surgeon in Gaza, won a district in New Jersey. Although he is not a DSA member, he has aligned himself with the movement and campaigned alongside DSA-backed candidates.

Source link