Democratic Socialists Pursue Soros-Style Local Election Strategy

The DSA is prioritizing small, local races to advance radical policies across the country.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 12:04pm

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The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is adopting a strategy similar to that of progressive billionaire George Soros, who poured millions into local district attorney races across the country over the past decade. Rather than supporting candidates at the national level, the increasingly radical DSA is now focusing on small, local elections for city councils, state assemblies, and state senates, which often fly under the radar but represent real opportunities for the group to gain power.

Why it matters

The Soros model has proven effective, with at least 30% of Americans now living under the jurisdiction of a Soros-funded prosecutor who has transformed the criminal justice system. The DSA is pursuing a similar strategy, with its membership growing from around 5,000 in 2016 to almost 78,000 by 2021. The group now has 225 chapters nationwide, each with its own recruitment, retention, training, and mentorship strategies, and DSA-backed candidates hold approximately 250 local political positions across the 50 states.

The details

In 2017, DSA delegates voted to prioritize elections going forward, with the group's coordinator Amelia Dornbush urging every chapter to start recruiting candidates for local office. The DSA has followed through, with its candidates holding 96 city councilor and county commissioner positions, as well as eight mayors, county executives, and town supervisors. The group is also making a push in New York City, where ten DSA-endorsed candidates are running for Congress, the state assembly, or the state senate in upcoming elections.

  • In 2016, progressive billionaire George Soros spent $3 million in local district attorney elections across six states.
  • By 2024, at least 30% of Americans lived under the jurisdiction of a Soros-funded prosecutor.
  • In 2017, amid a surge in DSA membership, the group's delegates voted to prioritize elections going forward.
  • By 2021, DSA membership had grown from around 5,000 to almost 78,000.

The players

George Soros

A progressive billionaire who poured millions into local district attorney races across the country over the past decade, helping to get progressive prosecutors elected and transform the criminal justice system.

Amelia Dornbush

A coordinator for the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) who, in 2018, urged every DSA chapter to start recruiting candidates for local office, stating that 'when DSA-backed candidates do win elections, they can make big changes in people's lives.'

Zohran Mamdani

A DSA-backed candidate who was elected to the New York State Assembly in 2020.

Aber Kawas

A DSA-endorsed candidate running for Congress, the state assembly, or the state senate in upcoming New York City elections.

Janeese Lewis George

A DSA-endorsed candidate running for mayor of Washington, D.C., promising to 'side with working people to make DC safe and affordable.'

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What they’re saying

“Now is the time for every DSA chapter to start recruiting candidates for local office. When DSA-backed candidates do win elections, they can make big changes in people's lives.”

— Amelia Dornbush, DSA Coordinator

What’s next

The upcoming elections in New York City and Washington, D.C. will be key tests for the DSA's local election strategy, as the group seeks to elect more of its members to positions of power and advance its radical policy agenda.

The takeaway

The DSA's focus on local elections, similar to the strategy employed by progressive billionaire George Soros, represents a real threat to the stability and economic well-being of cities and states across the country. Without meaningful checks, the implementation of DSA policies could compound and place significant strain on fiscal and economic stability, while also contributing to a broader cultural shift that cultivates contempt for capitalism and American exceptionalism.