The Young Democratic Socialists of America, or YDSA — a campus organization of activists who support progressive candidates across the U.S. — has exploded in membership in recent months, according to students who run some of its chapters.
They attribute the growth to the reelection of President Donald Trump and the success of New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist.
Interest in the Democratic Socialists of America, YDSA’s parent organization, has climbed steadily since Trump was elected for the first time and since Sen. Bernie Sanders, who was DSA-endorsed during his 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns, ran for president. The YDSA organization has grown from a dozen or so chapters in 2016 to more than 130 college chapters today.