Democratic Socialists Expand Presence in Congress After Midterms

Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) celebrated more than 50 victories in Tuesday's midterm elections, with at least five new socialists set to join the House of Representatives and one entering the Senate for the 120th Congress. Several races remain uncalled, but the DSA bloc in the House will reach at least seven members, the largest socialist group in Congress since 1910.

The influx of DSA-backed lawmakers is expected to test the Democratic Party's unity, as the new bloc could influence key votes on issues such as Medicare for All and military spending, despite remaining a small minority compared to the 242 other Democratic winners.

The DSA's gains come as the organization seeks to push the party further left, following years of tension between its members and establishment Democrats. The new members will have their first opportunity to shape party direction in the upcoming Democratic leadership race scheduled for November 17.

New Socialist Lawmakers

At least five new DSA-affiliated lawmakers are joining the House, with the possibility of a sixth if Angela Gonzales-Torres prevails in California's 34th Congressional District, where the race remains uncalled. The DSA announced Gonzales-Torres as the winner, but Decision Desk HQ has not confirmed the result. If confirmed, she would join the bloc alongside Chris Rabb of Pennsylvania, Donavan McKinney of Michigan, Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez of New York, and Melat Kiros of Colorado.

Incumbent DSA-endorsed Representatives Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York also retained their seats, with Ocasio-Cortez winning over 55% of the vote. The DSA's statement following the elections declared, “Over 50 DSA victories tonight prove socialism can win in the U.S. Workers deserve more and a reality where all of us live with dignity and hope is closer than we think.”

"I am nobody’s rubber stamp ... I’m committed to transformative change."

— Chris Rabb, incoming Representative for Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District

Impact on Party Leadership

The expanded DSA bloc is expected to play a role in the Democratic Party's leadership contest. No DSA-affiliated candidates have endorsed House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who has not backed their group but is likely to become speaker. The leadership race is set for November 17, marking the first major test of the new socialists' influence.

Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, warned during the campaign that the rise of socialists in Congress represented a significant shift. “Ronald Reagan used to warn about communism, he talked about it, but it was a distant threat across the world,” Johnson said. “And now the barbarians are inside the gate … This is not your father’s Democratic Party. That party’s long gone.”

While DSA candidates unseated several establishment Democrats and won in traditionally blue districts, none managed to flip Republican-held seats.

Key Senate and Local Races

In the Senate, Abdul El-Sayed won the Michigan race against Republican Mike Rogers. El-Sayed is not a DSA member or endorsee but shares many of the group's policy goals, including Medicare for All and ending military aid to Israel. In Florida, Republican incumbent Sen. Ashley Moody defeated DSA member Angie Nixon, while in Tennessee, Sen. Bill Hagerty secured a second term over Marquita Bradshaw, who was endorsed by a local DSA chapter.

On the local level, DSA-endorsed Janeese Lewis George won the mayoral race in Washington, D.C. Melat Kiros, another DSA-backed candidate, won in Colorado after defeating long-serving Democrat Diana DeGette in the July primary.

Uncalled Races and Ongoing Developments

Several races involving DSA candidates remain uncalled. In California's 34th Congressional District, Angela Gonzales-Torres faces incumbent Jimmy Gomez, who is under a House Ethics Committee investigation following allegations of nonconsensual sexual misconduct by a former staffer. Gomez has denied wrongdoing, stating the relationship was consensual. In another California race, DSA-endorsed Mai Vang is trailing Democratic incumbent Doris Matsui.

The DSA's victories have not gone unchallenged. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise defeated DSA-endorsed Lauren Jewett in Louisiana and has announced his candidacy for House minority leader. Republican incumbents also held Senate seats in Florida and Tennessee against DSA-aligned challengers.

The final composition of the DSA bloc in Congress will depend on the outcomes of the remaining uncalled races.