The Stunning Rise of the Democratic Socialists of America

This summer, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) have mounted their biggest and most successful attempt yet to redefine the Democratic Party. From the East Coast to the West Coast, and in swing states, Democratic Socialists have won several races, notably in Michigan and Pennsylvania. In Florida, Democratic Socialist Angie Nixon crushed Alex Vidman, the retired in the process. Americans' views of Democratic Socialists and socialism itself are changing. Socialism is up like a rocket. Two in three Democrats have a favorable view of socialism. A recent CBS News poll found Democrats view socialism more favorably than capitalism. Democratic Socialists of America have a +17-point net favorability rating among Democrats. Simply put, they are a better brand at this point than Democrats in Congress.

But as its electoral success grows, the organization at the heart of the movement is confronting big, unresolved questions about what it stands for, what exactly its relationship to the Democratic Party should be, and what level of compromise is required to become a lasting political force.

The DSA's Resurgence and Historical Context

Charlie Homans, a political correspondent, joins Michael Barbaro to discuss the rise and limitations of the DSA. Homans notes that the DSA has been around for a long time in various forms, but for all intents and purposes, this group wasn't really on the radar of a lot of people in politics and the general public until 2017. This resurgence began with Zohran Mamdani's victory in New York and continued through a remarkable run of congressional Democratic primary wins. Homans spent weeks talking to DSA members and candidates, observing their campaigns, and came away feeling that the DSA is a real, rising force in Democratic politics. However, he also believes that as it's growing its footprint in American politics, it might be its own worst enemy in terms of its future.

Homans explains that the DSA is not built as a political party; it exists inside the Democratic Party but doesn't work like a traditional party. It's a much more fractious organization with a lot of constituencies holding very different ideas about how to pursue their aims in politics. He realized that these debates within the DSA are not new, but rather echoes of historical debates within American socialism, now happening in a way that will profoundly affect its future as a force in American politics.