The NYC-DSA’s biggest elections since 2017

After Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign, the Democratic Socialists of America had renewed energy and began supporting candidates for office in New York City. Here are some of the most important elections since 2017.

Sept. 12, 2017

Khader El-Yateem, endorsed by the DSA, finishes second with 31% to Justin Brannan in a crowded New York City Council Democratic primary in Brooklyn. Notably, Zohran Mamdani works on the El-Yateem campaign.

Nov. 7, 2017

Jabari Brisport runs on the Green Party line with the DSA’s endorsement for New York City Council District 35 in Brooklyn and loses with 29% of the vote. Carlina Rivera, who won New York City Council District 2, is named as a DSA member in an organization press release.

June 26, 2018

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez upsets Joe Crowley, one of the top Democrats in the House, in the party’s primary with the DSA’s backing – and would later defeat him again in the general election.

Sept. 13, 2018

Six members of the Independent Democratic Conference in the state Senate lose in a backlash over their power-sharing agreement with Republicans. Julia Salazar, with the DSA’s backing, defeats Martin Malavé Dilan for a state Senate seat in Brooklyn and Queens amid this successful progressive wave.

June 25, 2019

DSA-backed Tiffany Cabán loses by less than 100 votes to Melinda Katz in the Democratic primary for Queens district attorney.

June 23, 2020

The DSA expands its ranks in Albany with a slate of primary wins, including Phara Souffrant Forrest, Jabari Brisport, Zohran Mamdani and Marcela Mitaynes. (Emily Gallagher also wins and almost immediately joins the DSA’s Socialists in Office group.) Julia Salazar wins reelection and Jamaal Bowman wins a congressional seat over incumbent Eliot Engel. Samelys Lopez’s congressional run in the Bronx is the DSA’s only loss.

June 22, 2021

Tiffany Cabán and Alexa Avilés win their primaries and reelection to the New York City Council, but other DSA candidates lose in their Democratic primaries, including Adolfo Abreu, Michael Hollingsworth, Brandon West and Jaslin Kaur.

Aug. 23, 2022

Kristen Gonzalez defeats Elizabeth Crowley for a state Senate seat, and the DSA incumbents in the state Legislature win reelection. However, DSA-backed candidates Samy Nemir Olivares, Illapa Sairitupac and David Alexis each lose in their state legislative races.

Nov. 7, 2023

Tiffany Cabán and Alexa Avilés are easily reelected to the New York City Council.

June 25, 2024

Claire Valdez, endorsed by the DSA, defeats Assembly Member Juan Ardila and challenger Johanna Carmona in the Democratic primary. But Eon Huntley and Jonathan Soto, both endorsed by the DSA, lose their primaries and Rep. Jamaal Bowman is defeated by George Latimer.

June 24, 2025

In a stunning upset, DSA-backed Zohran Mamdani wins the Democratic primary for New York City mayor over Andrew Cuomo. He defeats Cuomo again in November, leading to the DSA’s biggest electoral victory to date.