Democratic socialists are notching victories in major US cities by focusing on practical governance, a development that is reshaping the left flank of the Democratic Party. Zohran Mamdani took office as mayor of New York City this year, Katie Wilson won the Seattle mayoral race, and Janeese Lewis George is poised to become mayor of Washington DC after securing the Democratic nomination. These wins have energized the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and shifted the conversation from ideology to competence.
Pothole Politics and Sewer Socialism
Critics have long argued that democratic socialists prioritize ideology over effective administration. But supporters say Mamdani and others are proving the two can align. Gustavo Gordillo, co-chair of the DSA’s New York City chapter, pointed to Mamdani’s focus on basic services like snow removal and pothole repair as key to building trust. “It was through trying to implement the affordability agenda that we made the case for electing more democratic socialists,” Gordillo said. “We need to tax the rich to fund the program, and the governor and the current power structure fought us all the way. Our argument is we need to replace existing politicians to create a city and state that’s affordable for everybody. The mayor has prioritized pothole politics and sewer socialism to show that a democratic socialist can lead and be more responsive to working people.”
Rent Freeze Victory in New York
On Thursday, a New York City board voted to freeze rents for nearly one million apartments, handing Mamdani a major win on a central campaign promise. This move underscores the DSA’s ability to deliver tangible results while challenging capitalist structures. Unlike liberal Democrats who seek to regulate capitalism, democratic socialists aim to confront its underlying principles, advocating for direct government management of the economy and industry in the public interest.
Seattle’s Wilson and DC’s Lewis George
Katie Wilson, a self-described democratic socialist, won the Seattle mayoral race in November 2025 without formal DSA endorsement, rising on her advocacy for affordable housing, corporate taxes, and workers’ rights. In Washington DC, Janeese Lewis George defeated incumbent Muriel Bowser in the Democratic primary by focusing on “sewer socialism”—the everyday concerns of residents. “From the start, we championed the principle that DC residents deserve a government that works,” Lewis George said in her victory speech. “Failing public services eroded faith in government. As mayor, I will relentlessly focus on delivering reliable public services to every neighborhood. These are not trivial issues; they are core government functions.”
Activist Infrastructure and Policy Expertise
The DSA’s electoral success relies on a grassroots army of volunteers who knock on doors and phone-bank. But as members win executive positions, the focus is shifting to governance. Megan Romer, DSA national co-chair, explained: “It’s not just knocking doors and phone banking—what does it look like once we’re in office? We have people turning themselves into policy experts, figuring out municipal garbage policy or why potholes aren’t fixed. That lets us present an alternative that’s not just electorally viable but politically viable, so we can hold these positions and get done what we ran to do.”
Los Angeles Next Battleground
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass faces a runoff in November against city councilwoman and DSA member Nithya Raman—the first such challenge for an incumbent LA mayor in over 20 years. The DSA’s local chapter has not yet formally endorsed a candidate. The outcome could signal whether the socialist wave continues.
Broader Democratic Party Shifts
Not all cities are moving left. In San Francisco, centrist Democrat Daniel Lurie announced free childcare for families earning under $230,000 a year. But Corbin Trent, a former aide to Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, argued that socialists win because voters feel the system is broken. “Many establishment Democrats argued things are mostly good—just tweak the edges. Then they got beat by someone who said this is a shithole. They still don’t understand that people are not thrilled with this society, economy, democracy, or foreign policy.”
