Democratic Socialists of America have at least 65 candidates advancing to November state legislative races, a development Republicans argue could alter the direction of the Democratic Party.
According to a memo from the Republican State Leadership Committee, the slate of DSA-aligned contenders on general election ballots could shape the party’s future. The committee said the outcomes may influence not only state policy but also serve as a pipeline to higher office.
“The statehouse trend is also relevant because several prominent DSA-aligned Congressional candidates in 2026 have emerged from state and local political organizing,” the memo stated, adding that movement groups can cultivate candidates locally, build their networks and experience, and later back congressional bids.
The RSLC said its count includes candidates who are DSA members, DSA endorsees, or who identify with the organization.
Democratic Socialists of America in statehouse races
Republicans contend that positions embraced by some DSA-aligned hopefuls will be viewed as too far left by swing voters and independents, pointing to calls to defund or abolish police departments, economic proposals described as left-wing, and support for race-based reparations.
Opposition to traditional policing has featured prominently in several campaigns flagged by Republicans. New York State Sen. Jabari Brisport’s campaign site says he aims to end policing and incarceration in the state.
He has also backed decriminalizing prostitution, arguing that removing penalties for sex workers while keeping protections against trafficking would improve safety.
In Wisconsin, Democratic State Rep. Ryan Clancy has stood by earlier comments that policing has “no dignity or value,” asserting in a 2023 interview that American policing is inherently racist and cannot be reformed. Clancy later told Fox News Digital that his remarks were aimed at officers who abuse authority over sex workers, though his broader critique of the institution remained.
In New Mexico, State Rep. Eleanor Chávez, who is running with DSA support, has labeled Immigration and Customs Enforcement “fascist” and compared agents to the KKK. Republicans there criticized the rhetoric as potentially encouraging violence against law enforcement.
While social issues often draw attention, the group emphasizes its economic agenda. Some candidates are pressing proposals critics call radical, including public ownership of utilities.
In New York, Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha has advanced legislation to allow the state to acquire Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp., potentially through eminent domain if a negotiated purchase fails. In Michigan, Dylan Wegela has likewise advocated for state acquisition of utilities.
Shrestha said priorities backed by DSA-aligned lawmakers are popular with voters, citing support for non-profit energy, single-payer universal health care, publicly driven infrastructure such as permanently affordable housing, and public transit.
She pointed to a feasibility study commissioned by supporters that concluded the Central Hudson proposal could lower consumer costs.
At times, DSA positions diverge from broader Democratic initiatives. In Maryland, Gabriel Acevero opposed a marijuana legalization plan he said did not sufficiently address racial inequities, arguing that legalization without reparations is not progressive policy.
Numerous DSA-affiliated candidates in states including New York, Minnesota, and Massachusetts have endorsed reparations for racial minorities.
Republicans have worked to link the Democratic Party to the DSA brand. A September poll found that 55% of registered voters view the DSA unfavorably.
Even as some Democrats dismiss those attacks, party leaders have made accommodations to the left. For example, in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer supported a more moderate candidate over Abdul El-Sayed, but a super PAC aligned with Schumer has since committed millions to El-Sayed’s general election effort.
El-Sayed calls himself a progressive and says he is not a socialist.
Estimates of DSA representation vary. The RSLC counted at least 65 DSA-aligned state legislative candidates in 24 states advancing to November, while a Brookings Institution analysis put the total at a minimum of 76.
Brookings also noted that, despite recent attention, DSA-backed officeholders still account for a small share of state legislative seats nationwide.
The RSLC memo warned that “socialism starts in the states” and argued that the DSA’s growing role in statehouse contests could have short-term policy effects and reflects a longer-term strategy to build power from the state level up.
All state legislative candidates mentioned were contacted for comment.
For more on how shifting political strategies are reshaping campaigns, see The politics of tariffs after Trump reshape party lines.
