The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) takeover of the Democratic Party is no longer a fringe possibility—it’s openly being declared as the goal by its leaders and delegates. At its biennial convention in Chicago, the DSA celebrated Zohran Mamdani’s surprise win as the model for future candidates, with members vowing to seize control of the party’s political direction.
“We need to run campaigns that win. Campaigns like Zohran Mamdani, which put forward a bold vision of a socialist society,” said Nate K., a delegate from Atlanta. He claimed “Palestine is a winning issue” and insisted the time for “protest campaigns” was over. Another delegate, Jesse B., argued, “The Democratic Party is dying. They have less support than the Republican Party.”
Delegates passed resolutions solidifying their anti-Israel stance, including one making “organizing in solidarity with the Palestinian cause a priority until Palestine is free” and affirming the Palestine Liberation Organization PLO’s “right to resistance.” The convention took place under Communist Party flags, with chants of “Free Palestine” and “Death to the IDF” ringing out.
Keynote speaker Rep. Rashida Tlaib told attendees, “There will be a reckoning for these monstrous crimes and excuses of war criminals,” condemning her pro-Israel congressional colleagues.
The event showcased deep integration between DSA chapters and campaigns like Mamdani’s. As Jeremy Cohan of NYC DSA admitted, “The whole kind of campaign operation is integrated into DSA… developing a kind of a full organization building as well as campaign winning program.”
