Get you up to speed: Democratic Socialists of America see record wins in US midterm elections
In the US midterm elections on November 3, 2026, a record number of Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) candidates won federal offices, significantly expanding the movement’s influence in national politics. Notable winners included Claire Valdez, Darializa Avila Chevalier, and Brad Lander in New York, alongside re-elected Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and new members such as Rashida Tlaib in Michigan and Melat Kiros in Colorado.
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) now claims over 120,000 members across all 50 states, following significant growth since 2016. Election outcomes on 3 November included victories for several DSA-affiliated candidates in key states, marking a notable expansion of their representation in federal offices.
In response to the record wins by Democratic Socialists of America-affiliated candidates, Chanpreet Singh of the National Electoral Commission remarked, “This is a record for the DSA; these are numbers we have not seen in over a hundred years in socialist electoral activity.” Moving forward, candidates such as Claire Valdez and Rashida Tlaib will likely pursue their agendas on key issues including healthcare and immigration, while DSA membership continues to grow, now exceeding 120,000.
What remains unclear — The specific total number of DSA-affiliated candidates elected to federal offices during the midterm elections is not detailed.
Democratic Socialists of America achieve record number of midterm election wins
News|US Midterm Elections 2026Democratic Socialists of America see record wins in US midterm elections
The left-wing movement has won support for its views on issues like the war in Gaza and universal healthcare.
Published On 4 Nov 20264 Nov 2026
Published On 4 Nov 20264 Nov 2026A record number of candidates for federal offices who were backed by or affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) won in Tuesday’s US midterm elections, marking the most successful night the left-leaning movement has had in national politics so far.
“This is a record for the DSA; these are numbers we have not seen in over a hundred years in socialist electoral activity,” National Electoral Commission member Chanpreet Singh said on a livestream on Tuesday night after the elections. The stream, broadcast on Twitch to more than 200,000 viewers, was hosted by political commentator Hasan Piker.
The political group saw a surge in membership in 2016, when Vermont’s US Senator Bernie Sanders, a prominent DSA member, ran unsuccessfully for president, bringing the movement’s views on issues like universal healthcare and housing to a broader audience. The election of Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York City in 2025 brought more attention, and more members, to the DSA.
Today the movement says it has more than 120,000 members, with chapters across all 50 states. Members vote to decide which candidates to back in elections, in federal contests like those for the US Congress, as well as state and local bodies. Many of the candidates that the DSA endorses share views on core issues, including the war in Gaza, healthcare, and immigration.
So where did DSA-affiliated candidates win federal offices on November 3?
In New York State, three candidates who were either officially endorsed by the chapter or were closely affiliated with the DSA were elected to office on Tuesday: Claire Valdez, Darializa Avila Chevalier, and Brad Lander were elected to the US House of Representatives for the first time, and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was re-elected to her seat. Chevalier, who worked on Mamdani’s mayoral campaign, has helped organise pro-Palestinian protests and has been vocal about her opposition to Israel’s war on Gaza.
In Michigan, DSA member Rashida Tlaib was re-elected to her seat in the US House, member Donavan McKinney was elected to the body for the first time, and William Lawrence defeated a Republican candidate for a highly competitive US House seat.
Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old immigrant from Ethiopia who has also been outspoken on her views on issues like opposing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and abolishing US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), was elected to office with a wide margin to represent Colorado in the House.
In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, voters elected Chris Rabb, a former state lawmaker, to the US House for the first time.
On the West Coast in Los Angeles, California, Angela Gonzales-Torres defeated a Democratic incumbent for a seat in the US House.
Adam Hamawy, a former US Army medical doctor who has worked as a surgeon in Gaza, won a district in New Jersey. Although he is not a DSA member, he has aligned himself with the movement and campaigned alongside DSA-backed candidates.