Democratic Socialists of America – The Platform
Although some may accuse the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) of having puerile or naive notions about how successful societies must operate, unfortunately it is no longer an obscure political party that one can easily dismiss.
The movement has gained particular strength in New York City. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a prominent DSA member, has represented New York’s 14th Congressional District since 2019. Zohran Mamdani, another democratic socialist, was elected mayor of New York City in 2025 and took office on January 1, 2026.
The DSA attracted further national attention in June, when its endorsed candidates won numerous Democratic congressional and state legislative primaries in New York City. These victories included two congressional candidates and several candidates for the New York State Legislature.
The movement is not limited to New York. DSA chapters support candidates and elected officials in cities and states across the country. In Washington, D.C., DSA-endorsed candidate Janeese Lewis George won the 2026 Democratic mayoral primary and is heavily favored in the November general election.
These victories suggest that the DSA is becoming an increasingly influential force within the Democratic Party, particularly in heavily Democratic cities and legislative districts.
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The program goes substantially beyond European-style social welfare policies or traditional American progressivism. In essence, it calls for a new form of government. |
Read the DSA’s current national program, Workers Deserve More. According to the organization, the program was drafted between April and June 2026 by a committee selected through a process established by its 2025 National Convention.
Among other things, it calls for:
- Replacing capitalism with a democratic socialist system
- Drafting a new Constitution and creating what it calls a “democratic socialist republic”
- Abolishing the Electoral College and the U.S. Senate
- Replacing the President and Supreme Court with institutions chosen by and subordinate to Congress
- Establishing public ownership of the largest corporations and essential industries
- Moving toward the full abolition of the police and prison system
- Abolishing ICE
- Providing free healthcare and free public education through college
- Cancelling all student debt and establishing universal rent control
- Defunding the Department of Defense, ending foreign wars and closing overseas military bases
- Ending all U.S. military and economic assistance to Israel
Voters should examine these proposals carefully. Individual DSA-backed candidates often campaign on broadly popular concerns such as housing affordability, childcare, healthcare and public services. The organization’s official program, however, advocates much more fundamental changes to the American economic system, the constitutional structure of government, law enforcement and foreign policy.
Voters deserve to understand not only the immediate proposals advanced by individual candidates, but also the broader movement, platform and political organization those candidates are helping to strengthen.
It is one thing for Republicans to be wary of DSA’s gains among Democratic voters. We hope that Democrats have the courage, especially those in Greenwich, to take up the cudgel and disavow the expanding influence of the DSA.
Greenwich Republicans – Keeping Greenwich Great!
