Democratic socialists eye 2028 White House race

The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are eyeing a 2028 presidential bid in the wake of recent electoral successes across the country.

DSA Co-Chair Ashik Siddique told The Hill in a Thursday interview that the organization has over 100,000 members and 200 chapters across the country. “We want people to be talking proactively about what they would want to see in a presidential campaign,” he said. The organization is looking to see how voters would engage and what would motivate them, he added.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), a democratic socialist, is now one of the most prominent Democratic figures in Congress. Her name has even been floated as a possible Senate or presidential candidate.

Democratic socialists are stepping into the national political spotlight after recent election wins, with three leftist candidates supported by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) winning congressional primaries on Tuesday. Two of those candidates beat incumbents.

Community organizer Darializa Avila Chevalier defeated the Congressional Hispanic Caucus chair, Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), in the 13th District and former New York City comptroller Brad Lander toppled Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) in the 10th District. New York Assemblywoman Claire Valdez won the primary for the seat being vacated by retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.) in the 7th District.

“A lot is changing very quickly in the United States, and the types of wins that we’ve had is raising our ambitions that somebody who represents these politics could be really viable,” Siddique told The Hill.