A new political trend is taking hold in some of America’s biggest cities: Democratic socialists are winning mayor’s offices.
Nithya Raman’s victory in Los Angeles on Thursday, Nov. 5, adds the nation’s second-largest city to a growing list. Once she takes office, the mayors of New York City, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., will all be members of the Democratic Socialists of America. Seattle’s mayor also identifies as a democratic socialist.
Their agendas differ, but they share some big priorities: building more affordable housing, expanding child care and public transportation, strengthening renter protections and raising taxes on corporations and wealthy residents to help pay for public services.
Here’s a look at the democratic socialists leading,
or preparing to lead, major U.S. cities.
New York City: Zohran Mamdani
Zohran Mamdani became one of the country’s most prominent elected democratic socialists after winning the New York City mayoral race last year.
The assemblyman-turned-mayor has pursued a rent freeze affecting nearly 1 million rent-stabilized apartments, pushed to tax high-end second homes and expanded free child care for 2-year-olds in partnership with Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Los Angeles: Nithya Raman
Raman, a Los Angeles city councilwoman and DSA member, defeated Mayor Karen Bass, a more moderate Democrat who had served as mayor since 2022.
An urban planner by training, Raman campaigned on building more housing, changing zoning rules and improving public transportation.
Raman drew comparisons to Mamdani during the race because of their democratic socialist ties. The DSA endorsed her in September, though the two have not always been aligned. A national DSA panel considered rescinding the endorsement just before the election, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Seattle: Katie Wilson
Katie Wilson, elected last year, describes herself as a democratic socialist but is not a DSA member.
Since taking office, she has accelerated homeless shelter openings, expanded transit service and invested more in preschool programs.
An effort to recall Wilson was withdrawn in August.
Washington, D.C.: Janeese Lewis George
Janeese Lewis George, a D.C. councilwoman and DSA member, was elected mayor on Nov. 3.
She campaigned on universal child care, city-owned social housing and stronger tenant protections. She has also called for lowering rental costs for small businesses.
Lewis George will replace Muriel Bowser, who did not seek a fourth term.
Providence: David Morales
David Morales, a Rhode Island state lawmaker and former professional wrestler, was elected mayor of Providence on Nov. 3.
The DSA member defeated Republican David Talan after campaigning to limit rent increases, turn vacant properties into affordable housing and require corporations to contribute more toward city services and public schools, according to The Providence Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network.
What did Trump say about the elections?
President Donald Trump weighed in after Nithya Raman’s race was called, predicting that voters would sour on democratic socialist policies.
“It’s going to be a disaster,” Donald Trump told reporters on Nov. 4 in the Oval Office
“Unfortunately, usually that happens so late that you’ll never be able to bring back a city, or a country or a state, when it goes too far,” he said.
What is the Democratic Socialists of America?
The Democratic Socialists of America isn’t a traditional political party, but it has become an increasingly influential force on the left. Not all self-described democratic socialists are DSA members.
Members include New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib, both Democrats. Democratic U.S. Reps.-elect Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez in New York and Melat Kiros in Colorado also belong to the group, along with a growing number of state and local officials, according to previous reporting by USA TODAY.
The organization broadly supports a larger public role in housing, health care, child care and transportation, as well as stronger labor protections and higher taxes on corporations and wealthy individuals to help pay for public programs
Contributors: Emily R. Condon, Eduardo Cuevas, LeeAnne Lowry, Paris Barraza, Mike Stunson, Zachary Fletcher, Amethyst Martinez, USA TODAY; Colin Hogan, The Providence Journal
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Meet the democratic socialists leading major US cities
