WASHINGTON, July 7 (Reuters) – The Democratic Socialists of America, a left-wing political group, is now playing an influential role in the U.S. Democratic Party.
But what, exactly, do Democratic Socialists stand for? And can they ever become a factor in mainstream politics?
Here are some facts about the group, according to their national party website:
GROWING INFLUENCE IN DEMOCRATIC PARTY
DSA was founded through the merger of two groups in 1982 but spent decades in obscurity until 2016, when independent Senator Bernie Sanders’ unsuccessful bid for the Democratic presidential nomination highlighted disaffection with mainstream Democratic politics and consolidated the party’s left wing.
Sanders calls himself a democratic socialist, but is not formally affiliated with DSA.
The group got a boost in 2018, when DSA member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez won an upset Democratic primary for a New York-based House of Representatives seat. Ocasio-Cortez has since become an influential figure in the party and is seen as a possible 2028 presidential candidate.
DSA members have won other high-profile races since then, notably New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani. DSA-backed candidates have won Democratic House primaries this year in New York City and Colorado, while DSA member Nithya Raman emerged as one of two finalists in the race for Los Angeles mayor.
DSA member Janeese Lewis George won the Democratic primary for Washington, D.C., mayor and is expected to be elected to a full term in November.
The organization now says it is the largest socialist organization in U.S. history, with more than 100,000 members.
DSA or its local chapters have endorsed 150 candidates at all levels of government this year, and the group claims 38 wins and 38 losses so far.
SOCIALIST VS. DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST VS. COMMUNIST
President Donald Trump, a Republican, has characterized Mamdani and other DSA-backed candidates as “communist” in an attempt to link them to U.S. adversaries like the former Soviet Union.
Communism seeks to abolish private property and establish a classless society, though real-world attempts over the past century have fallen short of those goals.
In Europe, “democratic socialist” parties have used democratic means to establish robust safety nets and public control of major industries, while allowing for private property and markets.
DSA says it aims to go further than the European version of democratic socialism, while steering clear of the authoritarian approach of communist governments. The group calls for state control of major industries and replacing capitalism with a system where “ordinary people have a voice.”
ISRAEL POLICY
The DSA has sought to end the Democratic Party’s traditionally robust support for Israel, and the issue has emerged as a sharp dividing line in this year’s primary contests.
DSA calls Israel an apartheid state that is conducting a genocide in Gaza and has “fascist” aspirations. It calls for an end to all U.S. military and economic aid and weapons sales to Israel and backs student efforts to push universities to divest from the country.
DSA has called for a full withdrawal by Israel from Arab lands, a “right of return” for those who have been displaced, and a “right to resist” Israeli occupation, though it does not say whether that amounts to support for militant groups like Hamas. The group called the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas that killed 1,200 Israelis “not unprovoked” and said it was “a direct result of Israel’s apartheid regime.”
OTHER DSA POLICIES
The DSA national website lays out party positions on a number of national issues, including healthcare, education, taxation, and foreign policy.
• “Medicare for All,” which would expand the public health program for seniors to the entire U.S. population.
• Free higher education and early childhood education
• Universal rent control, and expanded public housing
• Higher taxes on the wealthy, corporations, inheritances and private colleges
• A 32-hour work week with no reduction in pay or benefits and stronger union protections
• “Massive” infrastructure and jobs programs and a “Green New Deal” that would increase investment in green energy and move away from fossil fuels
• Public ownership of major transportation and energy infrastructure and natural resources
• Dramatically loosened immigration policy that would allow workers to freely move between countries and end deportation
• Ending sanctions on Cuba, Venezuela, Iran and other countries “that act independently of the United States.”
• Slashing the U.S. military budget and closing all overseas military bases
• Replacing the Electoral College with a direct popular vote for U.S. president
• Expanding the number of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and ending supermajority rules in the Senate
(Reporting by Richard Cowan and Andy Sullivan. Editing by Michael Learmonth and Alistair Bell)
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