There is a social movement happening and it’s beginning in New York, the iconic city both population-wise 16 times larger than Kansas City, MO despite the latter being larger in land-are by municipal boundary. The political representation is coming to represent real, working-class people fighting for tangible change in a political arena that currently represents big money interests.
It’s socialism of the democratic brand and it’s gaining traction.
June 23, 2026, saw victories for both state legislature and Congressional office. The party, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), are true forces to be reckoned with. Traditional Democratic establishment party candidates have not served the interests of the majority, or 68% of the nation categorized as working class.
The DSA’s platform is captured in the slogan “Workers Deserve More!” There is real power in that. The party stands on social ownership and democratic control of the economy, taking the reformist approach to altering the political landscape through connecting with constituencies on a practically feasible implemented agenda.
I have come to see the organizing power in adopting their political agenda. Although I have more revolutionary hopes given the current political potential of the moment, this social movement is a win and a bridge to connection so many socialist like myself need.
When the establishment faces a reckoning in my city, I will canvass the heck out it. That’s how we mobilize voters to get to the polls. That’s how socialists have connected with voters. And that’s how they won just a few days ago, by getting out the message face-to-face, primarily, and through phone calls and digital media.
For my readers, potentially somewhat unaware, the DSA stands for economic approaches including Medicare for all or single payer healthcare; tuition-free higher education; strong pro-labor protections; climate action to address the environmental crisis outright denied or dismissed by many establishment figures across the aisle; tenant rights; and public services expansion. In terms of civil liberties, migration rights are human rights; ICE abolition is on the agenda; voting rights are key; and Transgender liberation are goals to move towards. International agendas consist of anti-Zionism, Palestine solidarity, foreign policy critique of U.S. military interventions and halting foreign military funding, and cease fire calls for global movements essentially advocating for anti-imperialist agendas.
This is a stark divergence from the establishment. No reason the Democrats have become so far removed from the people’s interests. Real change is on the way and it’s important to be on the right side of history.
Any DSA candidate should possess policy approaches that represent the constituency’s interests, thus making agendas varyingly progressive. Otherwise, outside of identity politics how else would they beget office? We get to identity politics below.
In solidarity, I believe that public goods should be available at quality levels for all to access, which requires investment and trust in government just as Zohran Mamdani campaigned on. Government should and can play a positive role in people’s lives. I am by absolutely no means a party loyalist. Represent my interests and I will back you. If not, and even if so, critique is just. There is a fundamental difference between public morality and personal morality, a key consideration in your political research.
One thing to keep in mind, however, is that identity politics must be kept in check and avoided. By identity politics I mean constructing a political identity around the charisma and identity of the candidate in question, rather than backing the policy approaches they stand for. Not only are identity political dominant in today’s global and domestic realms with figures like Donald Trump, but I’ve also seen it happen, too, with Mamdani’s success. Now I’m not saying that all DSA voters engage in this, by no means, but as an example from what I have seen, canvassers have experienced voter feedback stating they voted simply on party lines because they felt captured by the persona of NYC’s now elected mayor without truly understanding all of the policies he is fighting for. And while on the topic of him, he has disappointed some party members by governing concessions he has yield to the establishment including his approach in addressing the affordability crisis of housing and his praise of NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. This aside, true representation centers around critical engagement and decisive thinking. Identity politics distract you from reality and lead to inevitable personal crisis.
Nonetheless, NYC’s primaries show real potential for our movement. Take part, advocate, discuss politics openly. People may disagree but that is a conclusion each must come to their own conclusion about. Use rhetoric and engage in persuasive communication tactics. If you haven’t, one helpful tool would be to read Aristotle’s Rhetoric; tactics include Ethos-ethics and credibility, Pathos-emotive elements, and Logos-logic or reason.
The hope is that you may come to see policy that serves you, not the bourgeois. But that is your own prerogative and I must accept that even as a revolutionary. I hope the above helps.
Peace and love,
Jake
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