On Sept. 28, 2025, Zohran Mamdani, an officially endorsed member of the Democratic Socialists of America, won New York City’s mayoral election over independent Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. Since then, DSA-backed candidates have continued winning Democratic primaries across the country, raising questions about the organization’s influence ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
Mamdani’s victory has coincided with a growing trend of DSA-backed candidates finding success in Democratic primaries across several blue states. Claire Valdez, Darializa Avila Chevalier and Brad Lander were among those who defeated more moderate Democratic opponents in New York primaries.
Those victories have drawn the attention of liberals and moderates alike, prompting renewed discussion about the Democratic Party’s direction. As a new generation of progressive candidates emerges, many voters are watching to see whether the movement will continue gaining momentum.
Ryan Rimblas, 22, an FIU student who has recently become more interested in politics, said he views Mamdani and the rise of more progressive, left-leaning Democrats as a positive development.
“I think they’re a sign of something better to come,” Rimblas said. “People like Zohran as mayor have been doing a lot of good, a lot more good than I saw since I first got to vote.”
Many districts that once favored more moderate Democrats have recently seen growing support for younger progressive candidates. Some political observers have suggested the movement could influence this November’s elections as voters continue to evaluate the party’s direction.
Michigan and Wisconsin have emerged as key states to watch for DSA-endorsed Democratic candidates, although many political analysts have expressed doubts about their chances.
Gregg Birnbaum, an FIU professor and veteran journalist who has worked for the New York Post, Politico, CNN, the New York Daily News and the Miami Herald, said the DSA’s recent gains may not necessarily translate into long-term success. However, he said Mamdani’s election has had a significant impact within the Democratic Party and demonstrated that the organization’s candidates can be competitive.
“There’s no question that his [Zohran Mamdani] victory has had tremendous influence nationally,” Birnbaum said. “He showed that Democratic Socialists can win.”
Birnbaum said the movement’s success has largely been concentrated in urban, Democratic-leaning cities and districts, where its policies have found the strongest support.
The upcoming elections will test whether those policies can appeal to voters beyond those traditionally Democratic areas.
“If any of those districts are red, the DSA is not winning there; the DSA’s policies are antithetical to red Republicans,” Birnbaum said.
As the November elections approach, the DSA is expected to remain a prominent part of conversations about the Democratic Party’s future. The results could help determine whether the party continues embracing a more progressive direction heading into the 2028 election.
