DSA Launches 2028 Presidential Search After Urban Primary Wins

The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has begun organizing to select a candidate for the 2028 presidential primary. National leadership is currently surveying its 250 chapters to collect dossiers on potential candidates by September 15, with a formal selection vote scheduled for the organization's 2027 convention. Leaders plan to consult with Senator Bernie Sanders and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani to finalize the ticket.

This national push follows a series of primary victories in New York City, where a slate backed by Mamdani—including Darializa Avila Chevalier, Claire Valdez, and Brad Lander—defeated establishment-aligned rivals. These candidates campaigned on platforms advocating for the abolition of ICE, a national wealth tax, and packing the Supreme Court. Further momentum grew as Janeese Lewis George won the Democratic nomination for mayor of Washington, D.C., with 53.5% of the vote, prompting Donald Trump to threaten a federal takeover of the city's governance.

The organization is simultaneously expanding its influence in other urban centers and states. In Los Angeles, Nithya Raman secured a spot on the general election ballot for mayor. Other active campaigns include Melat Kiros in Colorado, Oliver Larkin in Florida, and former Congresswoman Cori Bush, who is attempting to reclaim her seat in Missouri.