D.C.'s Democratic Socialists Have Become a Campaigning Powerhouse

D.C.’s progressive left packed the house at Transmission, an underground dance club on H Street, for a “fundraver” in March to support Janeese Lewis George for mayor.

Lewis George and fellow democratic socialist candidate Aparna Raj, who is running to be Ward 1’s council member, spoke to an energetic crowd. The attendees cheered as the candidates promised to champion causes that are important to them: lowering utility costs, protecting tenants, and standing up to President Donald Trump.

“The status quo wants to continue to fight against labor when we organize across this city. The status quo wants to continue having fossil fuels and lead in our water and continue environmental racism throughout this city,” Lewis George said. “That [status quo] continues to want to be complicit in this fight against Donald Trump and ICE and fascism, but that status quo has one problem, and that is us.”

After closing her speech, Lewis George stepped off the stage and put on shades to rave with the 20-somethings, many of them Metro D.C. Democratic Socialists of America members, an organization that makes up a core pillar of her campaign apparatus.

Those members have been at work.

They spent hundreds of hours door-knocking and canvassing ahead of this week’s primary. It paid off: Lewis George is all but certain to become D.C.’s first democratic socialist mayor, beating out the other leading Democratic candidate, Kenyan McDuffie. Raj, who previously chaired the local DSA chapter, is leading in Ward 1. Oye Owolewa, who received a DSA endorsement for his bid for an at-large seat, is also ahead after the first tally of ranked-choice ballots. Ward 5 Council member Zachary Parker, who the DSA chapter endorsed in his successful 2022 election and again this year, won his primary this week.

Their successes are the surest sign yet of the growing influence of D.C.’s DSA chapter as more democratic socialist candidates win races around the country, most famously New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. With strategic endorsements and a mass of eager volunteers, the chapter is expanding its foothold in D.C. politics.

Metro D.C. Democratic Socialists of America added roughly 1,000 new members since this time last year and is well on its way to 4,000 members, according to Kurtis Hagans, chair of MDC DSA’s steering committee.

That growth added to the number of volunteers who were willing to do what DSA does particularly well: door-knocking at scale.

“I think now, between the two campaigns, I’m at like 4,600 doors right now,” said one member, referring to Lewis George and Raj, while canvassing an apartment complex in Ward 1 the day before the election (he noted that was well above average).

The majority of door-knocking on Raj’s behalf was done by DSA members, according to the chapter and the candidate. For Lewis George’s campaign, MDC DSA placed the number at 20% to 30%. Lewis George’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

In total, MDC DSA says it has knocked on well over 100,000 doors for this campaign cycle.

Lewis George speaks to supporters at The Howard Theatre on election night. Violet Jira/NOTUS

“We’ve had, I think, close to 300 unique volunteers coming out, knocking doors in the rain and the cold and the heat,” Hagans said. “I think we’re certainly a force to be reckoned with in the region, and folks are starting to see that. It’s interesting to see how folks are trying to develop reactions, because, you know — who’s knocking doors for McDuffie?”

The DSA chapter’s surge is happening at a politically tumultuous time. Trump has exerted an unprecedented level of federal power over the District, briefly taking over the city’s police department last year and deploying federal agents throughout the city to conduct immigration enforcement.

The city also faces the same affordability concerns as elsewhere in the country. The DSA-endorsed candidates, like other Democrats nationwide, centered their platform on making D.C. more affordable, promising to advance policies that are socialist in nature, such as implementing free child care and building thousands of homes to boost the availability of affordable housing.

“I think it’s a change election, so voters are looking for people that have a message of something new versus more the same. Democrats, in particular, want someone to stand up to Trump, particularly on the ICE issue,” said Byron LaMasters, a progressive political strategist.

He said Lewis George “did a terrific job” of talking about affordability.

Lewis George hears grievances from the Museum Square Tenants Association in May. Kainaz Amaria/NOTUS

“People are concerned about the affordability of everything from housing to gas to groceries, and Democrats I think can win by having a message on those issues pretty much across the country, and it certainly resonated here in D.C.,” LaMasters said.

Looking ahead, MDC DSA members said they plan to use their growth and momentum to continue their efforts throughout D.C.

“We are really excited to be able to work on the inside track with Janeese,” Hagans said. “We would love to see the promises made to the District realized.”

Raj said DSA and her campaign had offered people joy and a positive vision for the future.

“Transmission was a dance party, but it was also queer resistance in a lot of ways,” she said.

The votes are still being counted in Raj’s race but she looks likely to win. If elected, she said she intends to serve like an organizer.

“We saw a huge mobilization of people who had never been politically activated before in our campaign,” she said. “I think this is an opportunity to bring people’s voices to the Wilson building.”