Democratic socialists appear to be gaining more traction during the midterm election season, having notched up several high-profile primary victories in major cities and congressional districts.
Indeed, candidates that the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) backed have had some significant wins in places like Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and Pennsylvania as voters grow more frustrated with the political establishment.
In Pennsylvania, state Rep. Chris Rabb won the Democratic primary for the third congressional district on May 19. DSA cheered the victory, saying, “There is a new Democratic Socialist in Congress.”
Janeese Lewis George won the Democratic mayoral primary with about 53 percent of the vote in Washington, D.C.
DSA member Nithya Raman advanced to a November runoff in the Los Angeles mayoral race against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. DSA reported 17 wins for nationally endorsed candidates so far in this election cycle.
This season is drastically different from the 2024 campaign. Back then, prominent DSA-aligned lawmakers faced tough primary losses. Reps. Cori Bush of Missouri and Jamaal Bowman of New York both lost their primary races.
There are several factors contributing to this trend, however voter fatigue appears among the top issues for voters choosing anti-establishment candidates. George noted that “People are tired of hearing what government can’t do. They want to hear what government can do,” according to NBC Washington. “This is absolutely a change election and I’m excited to bring the change that people want, which is really putting people first in the city and having the moral clarity and courage to stand up to Trump.”
Democratic strategist Eric Stern pointed to economic concerns as the reason more voters are embracing socialist candidates. “They are all channeling a displeasure with a status quo and a serious desire for economic populism that the establishment Democratic Party hasn't been preaching,” he said.
DSA Co-Chair Megan Romer noted that voters “are drawn to authenticity, in an era where so little is authentic.”
Fatigue with mainstream politics has created more opportunities to far leftist candidates, especially in major cities. ABC News reported that DSA membership has grown past 100,000. But it’s not just about the numbers; it’s also the fact that these people are engaged. The growth has resulted in more volunteers willing to knock on doors for their preferred candidates. Indeed, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani rode the wave of discontent to victory in 2025.
The trend raises serious questions about the Democratic Party’s future and the direction it might take. Some have warned that the leftward shift could harm their chances in swing areas. Others contend that this is proof that economic populist messages resonate with a growing number of voters.
The Democratic socialist movement seems poised to keep testing that theory and the upcoming midterm elections will show whether it paid off.
High housing costs, stagnant wages, and rising prices are pushing voters to reject the establishment and try something different. The problem is that “something different” means more government, which shows that people still haven’t learned the real lesson: Government is the problem.
Most of the problems the average American faces can find their root in government policy — at least in part. Whenever the government expands, things typically get worse. Unfortunately, if the Democratic socialists get their way, America will be in for a reckoning, one that causes it to learn its lesson the hard way.