DSA-backed candidates sweep federal races in historic midterm night
Record numbers of left-leaning elected officials secured seats across New York, Michigan, Colorado, and other states.
By Rafael Collins ·
A record number of candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America won federal offices in Tuesday’s midterm elections. The group reported its most successful night in national politics in over a century.
Chanpreet Singh, a member of the National Electoral Commission, confirmed the milestone on a livestream. The broadcast, hosted by political commentator Hasan Piker, reached more than 200,000 viewers on Twitch. Singh stated that the results represent numbers unseen in more than 100 years of socialist electoral activity.
The movement has grown since 2016, when Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders ran for president. Sanders, a prominent DSA member, brought attention to universal healthcare and housing issues. Membership increased further after Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor of New York City in 2025. The group now reports more than 120,000 members with chapters in all 50 states.
In New York, four candidates affiliated with or endorsed by the DSA won House seats. Claire Valdez, Darializa Avila Chevalier, and Brad Lander were elected for the first time. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was re-elected to her existing seat. Chevalier worked on Mamdani’s mayoral campaign and organized pro-Palestinian protests.
Michigan voters re-elected DSA member Rashida Tlaib to the House. Donavan McKinney won his first term, and William Lawrence defeated a Republican in a competitive district. In Colorado, 29-year-old Melat Kiros won a wide margin in her bid for the House. Kiros, an immigrant from Ethiopia, has spoken against ICE and the war in Gaza.
Other wins included Chris Rabb, a former state lawmaker elected to the House in Philadelphia, and Angela Gonzales-Torres, who defeated a Democratic incumbent in Los Angeles. Adam Hamawy, a former Army surgeon who worked in Gaza, won a New Jersey district. Although not a formal member, Hamawy aligned with the movement and campaigned with DSA-backed candidates.
Members vote to decide which candidates to support in federal, state, and local elections. Endorsed candidates often share views on Gaza, healthcare, and immigration. The group’s influence continues to expand as these newly elected officials take office.
