Cara Brown McCormick
For most of American history, the word socialist conjured Marx, Lenin, Mao, and Castro, which is why calling yourself one was considered political suicide in this country. Then Bernie Sanders rebranded it as something gentler and more Scandinavian in variety, not to be feared.
So many Americans believed him that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez went from bartending in the Bronx to Congress, and Zohran Mamdani was sworn in on January 1 as the Democratic Socialist mayor of the largest city in America. The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) had 6,000 members before Sanders ran for president in 2016. It has over 100,000 today.
This year, the movement is on the ballot across the country. Here are 11 candidates calling themselves socialists out loud in the midterms.
1. Melat Kiros, Congressional Candidate, Colorado's 1st District — Primary: June 30, 2026
A self-described democratic socialist endorsed by DSA's Denver chapter and DSA nationally, Kiros is challenging 15-term incumbent Diana DeGette. A recent Data for Progress poll shows her leading DeGette by five points. She is also endorsed by Bernie Sanders and Justice Democrats. (Source: Colorado Sun: "Melat Kiros is a lawyer who was fired from her law firm after writing an article defending pro-Palestinian student protestors. She is running as a Democratic Socialist.”)
2. Nithya Raman, Candidate for Mayor of Los Angeles
A DSA member and Los Angeles City Council member, Raman was down eight points on election night before the late mail vote arrived from neighborhoods targeted by the Progressive/DSA ground operation, fueled by Tom Steyer's governor's race spending. She climbed from third to second over five days, overtaking Republican Spencer Pratt and landing in a November runoff against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. Polling shows Bass would have beaten Pratt by 18 points but trails Raman by four. (Source: Wikipedia: "Raman, a member of the Democratic Party and the Democratic Socialists of America.")
3. Janeese Lewis George, Candidate for Mayor of Washington D.C.
A DSA member since 2018 and self-described democratic socialist, Lewis George won the Democratic mayoral primary on June 16 with 53 percent of the vote, defeating former Council member Kenyan McDuffie by 16 points. She is the first self-described democratic socialist on the DC Council since 1998. As the Democratic nominee in an overwhelmingly Democratic city, she is the presumptive next mayor. Trump has threatened to invoke the Home Rule Act should she take office. The DSA's Washington chapter mobilized more than 300 members to canvass for her. (Source: Wikipedia: "She joined the Democratic Socialists of America in 2018.")
4. Claire Valdez, Congressional Candidate, New York's 7th District
A DSA member, UAW labor organizer, and former New York City DSA membership chair, Valdez defeated Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso by more than 20 points in the Democratic primary for New York's 7th Congressional District on June 23. She is expected to win the general election in November, making her the DSA's first cadre candidate in Congress. She was endorsed by Mayor Mamdani, Bernie Sanders, and the UAW. (Source: NYC-DSA: "Assemblymember Claire Valdez is a union organizer, artist, and proud democratic socialist.")
Shawn Griffiths
5. Darializa Avila Chevalier, Congressional Candidate, New York's 13th District
A DSA member, Avila Chevalier, defeated five-term incumbent Adriano Espaillat, chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, in the Democratic primary for New York's 13th District on June 23. The race drew millions in outside spending, including from AIPAC. She will represent Upper Manhattan and part of the Bronx. (Source: The Intercept: "Avila Chevalier, who defeated five-term Rep. Adriano Espaillat — the Hispanic caucus chair — is a DSA member.")
6. Chris Rabb, Congressional Candidate, Pennsylvania's 3rd District
A self-described democratic socialist who joined DSA in 2026, Rabb won the 3rd Congressional District primary in Philadelphia on May 19 by nearly 15 points. He was endorsed by the Philadelphia DSA chapter, the Working Families Party, Justice Democrats, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. (Source: Wikipedia: "He joined the Democratic Socialists of America in 2026, but stated in an interview with Jacobin that he has identified as a democratic socialist for years.")
7. Aber Kawas, State Senate Candidate, New York Senate District 12
A self-described democratic socialist, Kawas won her primary on June 23rd as part of the DSA's sweep of Queens. She was endorsed by Mayor Mamdani and Bernie Sanders. (Source: NYC-DSA: "Aber Kawas is a Palestinian community organizer and democratic socialist.")
8. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, US Representative, New York's 14th District
A DSA member and self-identified democratic socialist first elected in 2018, Ocasio-Cortez won her 2026 primary on June 23 with 87 percent of the vote. She chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus and is frequently mentioned as a 2028 presidential contender. (Source: Ballotpedia: "Ocasio-Cortez is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.")
9. Rashida Tlaib, US Representative, Michigan's 12th District
A DSA member, self-identified democratic socialist, and the only Palestinian American in Congress, Tlaib has represented the Detroit and Dearborn area since 2019. She was censured by the House in 2023 for her criticism of Israel. Her 2026 primary is scheduled for August 4 in a solidly Democratic district. (Source: Wikipedia: "Tlaib is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.")
10. Oliver Larkin, Congressional Candidate, Florida's 23rd District
A DSA member since 2020, Larkin is challenging incumbent Representative Jared Moskowitz in the August 18 Democratic primary. He was the first candidate nationally endorsed by DSA this cycle and is backed by four Florida DSA chapters. He has raised over $325,000 from more than 5,000 grassroots donors. (Source: Broward DSA endorsement statement: "Larkin worked on democratic socialist U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign and has been a DSA member since 2020.")
11. Brittany Kubicek, Candidate for Rhode Island House District 5
A DSA member running as an independent socialist, the only candidate on this list not running as a Democrat, Kubicek is challenging incumbent Democrat Anthony DeSimone. Her platform includes a $30 minimum wage, a statewide rent freeze, and a public takeover of Rhode Island's energy companies. (Source: Rhode Island DSA Field Notes: "RI DSA organizer Brittany Kubicek announced her campaign for Rhode Island House District 5.")