The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are laying groundwork for a 2028 presidential campaign, capitalizing on a string of primary victories that have rattled the Democratic establishment.
DSA Co-Chair Ashik Siddique told The Hill that the organization, which boasts over 100,000 members across 200 chapters, is actively gauging voter appetite for a socialist ticket. “We want people to be talking proactively about what they would want to see in a presidential campaign,” Siddique said, adding that the group is studying what motivates voters and how to sustain engagement.
The push comes as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), a prominent democratic socialist, is frequently mentioned as a potential Senate or presidential contender. Her national profile has made her a natural figurehead for the movement.
Recent electoral wins have clearly boosted the DSA’s ambitions. In Tuesday’s New York primaries, three leftist candidates backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) beat incumbents. Community organizer Darializa Avila Chevalier ousted Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) in the 13th District. Former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander defeated Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) in the 10th District. Assemblywoman Claire Valdez won the primary for the seat vacated by retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.) in the 7th District.
These upsets have deepened the Democratic Party’s internal rift over strategy and ideology. As our analysis of the progressive primary sweep shows, the victories signal a growing appetite for bold leftist policies among primary voters, even as centrists warn of general election risks.
“A lot is changing very quickly in the United States, and the types of wins that we’ve had is raising our ambitions that somebody who represents these politics could be really viable,” Siddique said.
The DSA’s 2028 planning dovetails with broader trends. The New York primaries also opened a new front in the Democratic civil war over Israel, as socialist candidates have taken increasingly critical stances on U.S. support for the Netanyahu government. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump’s approval rating has sunk to 20 points underwater, with the socialist surge compounding his political troubles.
Siddique emphasized that the DSA is not yet endorsing a specific candidate but is building the infrastructure for a campaign that could reshape the 2028 race. The group’s growing membership and recent primary wins give it a credible platform to challenge the Democratic establishment.
