Five DSA-backed candidates win House seats in historic midterm sweep

The Democratic Socialists of America elected five candidates to the U.S. House of Representatives in Tuesday's midterm elections. The Associated Press called all five races. The winners are Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez in New York, Melat Kiros in Colorado, Donavan McKinney in Michigan, and Chris Rabb in Pennsylvania. All five candidates won in reliably blue congressional districts.

This victory triples the organization's presence in the chamber. Currently, only Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York are DSA members. When the new Congress is seated in January, the group will field at least seven representatives. This bloc aims to push the Democratic Party further left on policy.

The candidates campaigned on economic populist platforms. They championed universal healthcare and childcare. They also took stances that divided the party, such as supporting the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Many candidates rejected donations from corporations and pro-Israel lobbying groups. They condemned the war in Gaza and called for an end to U.S. military aid to Israel.

The path to victory was competitive. Kiros defeated 15-term incumbent Rep. Diana DeGette in Colorado's 1st District in July. Chevalier defeated Rep. Adriano Espaillat, the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, in New York's 13th District. These primary upsets demonstrated the candidates' willingness to challenge establishment figures.

Republicans used the DSA platform to attack the Democratic brand. They linked moderate candidates to socialist figures like New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez. This strategy sought to paint the party as too extreme for voters.

If Democrats win the House, the incoming DSA-backed members could hold outsize influence. Their power depends on the size of the Democratic majority. A thin majority would give the bloc more leverage than a comfortable one.

The upcoming vote for House speaker will be an early test. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York is poised to become the first Black speaker if Democrats retain control. None of the incoming DSA-endorsed candidates has committed to supporting Jeffries for the role.