Would you vote for a socialist? Tell us why. Or why not. | Opinion
A few Democratic Socialists of America members already hold office. Now they are winning primaries from New York to Colorado. Is this a DSA wave? Why is this happening now? Scroll down to tell us.
Joel BurgessI knew democratic socialists were having a moment. But a recent win in Florida makes me think it might be longer than that.
In that state's Aug. 18 Democratic primary, Democratic Socialists of America member Angie Nixon pulled an upset Senate victory over well-funded party establishment candidate Alexander Vindman. Nixon is a straight-up left-winger, who campaigned on things like a $25 federal minimum wage and universal health care and childcare.
There are already prominent elected DSA members – Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib in the U.S. House of Representatives and Zohran Mamdani in the New York mayor's office. But if Nixon wins the general election, she'll be the first in the U.S. Senate. (Sen. Bernie Sanders, a former presidential candidate, identifies as a democratic socialist but isn't a DSA member.)
Ironically, Nixon comes from a 120,000-member group that wants to abolish the Senate, because its representation isn't based on people but on states.
When you add Nixon's victory to DSA primary House wins that have already happened in Colorado, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania, it looks like more than a ripple to me. But is it a wave?
Are DSA candidates the future for Democrats? Or too radical? Tell us below.
How does it look to you, our USA TODAY readers? Will these unabashedly far-left candidates get your support with calls for things like universal health care, higher taxes on billionaires and abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement? Or will DSA's platform of slashing Israel aid, rewriting the Constitution and cutting police funding turn people away – and possibly make them agree with President Donald Trump, who's been tossing around the word "communist" as a descriptor?
Scroll down to submit your answers, or send us an email at [email protected] using the subject line “democratic socialists.” You can also leave us a voicemail at (202) 655-3923. We’ll publish a collection of your responses, so we may reach out to you about yours.
Joel Burgess is a Voices editor for USA TODAY Opinion.