Democratic Socialists of America

The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is a socialist political organization in the United States. It is the country's largest socialist organization, with more than 100,000 members as of February 2026. A big tent on the left wing of the political spectrum, the organization is primarily organized around the principles of democratic socialism, with its members active in electoral politics, labor organizing, and direct action campaigns. DSA, which is not a political party with a ballot line, has a decentralized structure in which local chapters and ideological caucuses have significant autonomy. The organization's largest chapter is in New York City, where the organization is also headquartered.

DSA was formed in 1982 when the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee (DSOC) and the New American Movement (NAM) merged. The merger was seen as a symbolic healing of the rift between the Old Left, represented by DSOC's social democrats and trade unionists, and the New Left, represented by NAM's activists who emerged from the social movements of the 1960s. Initially led by Michael Harrington, the organization functioned as a small advocacy group for its first three decades, continuing DSOC's strategy of "realignment" by working within the Democratic Party to push it to the left.

DSA was a minor political force until the 2016 presidential campaign of Senator Bernie Sanders, a self-identified democratic socialist, after which its membership swelled from about 6,000 members in 2015 to 100,000 in 2026. This growth gave DSA a much younger and more activist base, and shifted its strategy toward one centered on building an independent political force, though this remains a subject of internal debate. The organization's platform calls for reforms such as a Green New Deal, Medicare for All, and tuition-free higher education, with a long-term aim of social ownership and democratic control of the economy. DSA's foreign policy is non-interventionist, strongly supporting spending cuts and footprint reductions to the U.S. military while also supporting pro-Palestinian and anti-Zionist causes.

DSA engages in electoral politics by endorsing candidates who align with its values, including Democrats, Working Families, Greens, and independents. Notable DSA elected officials include U.S. representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib and New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani. In 2025, over 250 DSA members held elected public office across 40 states, with 90% elected after 2019.