As fatigue with mainstream politics grows, democratic socialists across the United States see a potential opening in the midterm elections — even as President Donald Trump warns he may “take back” Washington, DC, if a socialist wins the mayor’s race.
When asked at the White House how he would feel if Janeese Lewis George won Tuesday’s primary in her campaign to become the next mayor of Washington, DC, Trump’s response was clear: “I wouldn’t like it. Maybe we take back Washington and run it on a federal basis. We won’t put up with it.”
Lewis George, a DC council member, is one of several democratic socialists running for office nationally who hope fatigue with Trump and frustration with Democrats will inspire voters to consider alternatives to establishment candidates. She advocates pushing back against the Trump administration, particularly on cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
A Washington Post-Schar School poll showed Lewis George with a double-digit lead over her Democratic opponent, former DC council member Kenyan McDuffie.
Rising Support for Socialism
A Fox News poll conducted earlier this year found that 38% of voters believe it would be good for the US to move toward socialism and away from capitalism — a new record high, up 6 percentage points from 2022. Among voters under 30, that number jumps to 53%.
Emily Ekins, a researcher at the libertarian Cato Institute, told ABC News that young people “want affordable health care, more affordable housing, a fair economy, where the rich aren’t getting special favors from the government,” but argued that young people do not actually understand what socialism is.
DSA’s Mixed Track Record
The Democratic Socialists of America rose to prominence in 2018 when several members, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar, won House seats running as Democrats. However, the group has faced setbacks. Prominent democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders failed to secure the Democratic nomination for president, and several DSA politicians, including Cori Bush and Jamaal Bowman, have lost their congressional seats.
Prominent Democrats also sometimes decline to endorse DSA candidates. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer declined to endorse Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayoral race, and Maryland Democratic Sen. Angela Alsobrooks backed McDuffie against Lewis George.
Recent Successes and Future Hopes
More recently, DSA candidates have seen successes in Democratic primaries. Chris Rabb won in Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District on May 19. Progressive Los Angeles city council member Nithya Raman advanced to the city’s general mayoral election. If Raman and Lewis George both win, New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC, would all have DSA mayors.
Matt Bennett of Third Way, a center-left think tank, warned that trying to recreate those successes in purple states could spell disaster for Democrats. He expressed concern that DSA candidate Francesca Hong, running for governor of Wisconsin, could win her primary but lose in November to a Republican.
“Far-left candidates have not flipped a seat in Congress from Republican to Democrat since Trump became president in 2017,” Bennett said, whereas “moderate Democrats have flipped 50.”
Oliver Larkin, a DSA candidate for Congress in Florida, disagreed, telling ABC News: “As the first DSA candidate for federal office in Florida history, what we’re doing really hasn’t been tried before. People should not buy that the election results from the last few years are a harbinger of what’s to come this fall.”
The Bottom Line
Democratic socialists across the United States see growing voter fatigue with mainstream politics as an opportunity in the midterm elections. A Fox News poll shows record support for socialism, particularly among young voters. However, the Democratic Socialists of America have faced setbacks, and centrist Democrats warn that far-left candidates cannot win in purple states. The movement has seen recent primary successes in liberal cities, including Washington, DC, where the socialist mayoral candidate leads her primary. President Trump has threatened to “take back” the nation’s capital if she wins.
