Democratic Socialists of America

The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is a socialistpolitical organization in the United States, and the largest such organization in US history, with more than 120,000 members as of July 2026. A big tent on the left wing of the political spectrum, it is primarily organized around the principles of democratic socialism, with its members active in electoral politics, labor organizing, and direct action campaigns. DSA, which is not a political party with its own ballot line, has a decentralized structure in which local chapters and ideological caucuses have significant autonomy. The organization's largest chapters include those in New York City (where it is headquartered), Los Angeles, and the Washington metropolitan area.

DSA was founded in 1982 from a merger of the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee (DSOC) and the New American Movement (NAM). The merger was seen as a symbolic healing of the rift between the Old Left, represented by DSOC's social democrats and trade unionists, and the New Left, represented by NAM's activists who emerged from the social movements of the 1960s. Initially led by Michael Harrington, the DSA continued DSOC's strategy of "realignment" by working within the Democratic Party to push it to the left, functioning as a small advocacy group for its first three decades. After the 2016 presidential campaign of Senator Bernie Sanders, a self-identified democratic socialist, and the election of Donald Trump, the organization's membership swelled from about 6,000 members in 2015 to more than 120,000 in 2026. This growth gave DSA a much younger and more activist base, who shifted its strategy toward one centered on building an independent political force, though this remains a subject of internal debate.

DSA's platform calls for reforms such as a Green New Deal, single-payer healthcare, and tuition-free higher education, with a long-term aim of social ownership and democratic control of the American economy. DSA's foreign policy is anti-imperialist, strongly supporting spending cuts and footprint reductions to the US military while also supporting pro-Palestinian and anti-Zionist causes.

DSA engages in electoral politics by endorsing and canvassing for candidates who align with its values, including Democrats, Working Families, Greens, and independents. Notable DSA elected officials include US representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib (both elected in 2018), and New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani (elected in 2025). In 2025, over 250 DSA members held elected public office across 40 states, with 90% elected after 2019.