Democratic Socialists Are Winning Across the Country
If the capitalist establishment thought the democratic socialist movement was a temporary trend, the 2026 primary election season just gave them a multi-million-dollar reality check.
Despite right-wing and establishment super PACs pouring millions into NYC legislative races, working-class voters won a series of decisive primary victories. Across the country, DSA chapters are proving that our movement isn't just surviving under a hostile political climate; we are expanding from local city councils straight into the halls of Congress.
Here are a few highlights from the monumental victories won just this past week (though this is by no means an exhaustive list of DSA victories), and a look at the critical fights still ahead.
Sending Socialists to Washington
Certainly one of the most significant triumphs of the week came out of New York’s 7th Congressional District. Claire Valdez, a DSA member, labor organizer, and United Auto Workers (UAW) ally, secured a landslide victory in the Democratic primary to succeed retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez.
Valdez blew past her institutional, establishment-backed opponent, winning 58% to 33%. She is now overwhelmingly favored to head to Washington this November.
Valdez won't be alone. She is set to join an expanded socialist bench in D.C. that includes:
• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who easily cruised to primary reelection.
• Darializa Avila Chevalier, who pulled off a stunning upset victory over long-time incumbent Adriano Espaillat in New York's 13th District.
Taking Over City Halls
We aren't just a legislative voting bloc anymore. Over the last year, democratic socialists have fundamentally altered urban politics across the nation, built directly on the historic momentum of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose landmark victory completely rewrote the playbook for municipal socialist power.
• Washington, D.C.: Just last week, D.C. Council member Janeese Lewis George won a historic primary victory, paving a clear path to the D.C. Mayor's office. Her win shatters a quarter-century of centrist governance in the capital.
• Seattle and Los Angeles: Following Katie Wilson's upset mayoral victory in Seattle last fall, Nithya Raman has officially clinched her spot in the upcoming November runoff against Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
DSA-endorsed candidates secured a historic sweep, picking up key seats in Albany as well. The victorious slate won their primary races by significant margins in the following districts:
• Aber Kawas (State Senate, District 12)
• Diana Moreno (State Assembly, District 36)
• Samantha Kattan (State Assembly, District 37)
• David Orkin (State Assembly, District 38)
• Christian Celeste Tate (State Assembly, District 54)
• Eon Huntley (State Assembly, District 56)
• Illapa Sairitupac (State Assembly, District 65)
"These are the results of an actual democracy, people power at work. We are showing that we can defeat the establishment."a
- NY Assemblymember Diana Moreno
The Next Battles: Wisconsin and Colorado
The momentum from last week is heading directly into upcoming primary battles, where local DSA chapters are fighting to expand our socialist bench among Midwesterners and our neighbors to the North:
• Colorado: The next major test of DSA's appeal beyond the East Coast is happening right now in Denver, where democratic socialist Melat Kiros is mounting a powerful challenge against long-time incumbent Rep. Diana DeGette for Colorado's 1st Congressional District in the June 30 primary.
• Wisconsin: In a historic bid for statewide executive power, state representative and democratic socialist Francesca Hong is running in the primary for Governor of Wisconsin, aiming to bring the DSA platform to the governor's mansion.
What This Means for New Mexico and ABQDSA
These nationwide victories and upcoming fights show a clear trend: when we run independent-minded public servants on an unapologetic, material agenda (like free childcare, homebuyer assistance, and rent control) we win. The establishment can outspend us, but they cannot out-organize a working class that has found its political voice.
As we look toward the general elections this November, the energy from New York, D.C., California, and the Midwest belongs to us here in Albuquerque, too.
Get Involved: Want to help build socialist power right here in New Mexico? Join us at our next general meeting (last Saturdays of the month) to get involved in the movement sweeping the nation! .