Democratic Socialists Gain Ground in US Mayoral Races Amid Anti-Trump Sentiment

Democratic socialist candidates are securing significant victories and advancing in mayoral races across the United States, driven by a surge of anti-Trump fervor and a desire for transformative urban governance. In Washington, D.C., Janeese Lewis George won the Democratic primary, positioning herself to become the next mayor of a city dominated by the party. Her agenda includes subsidized childcare, increased homebuyer assistance, and a promise to confront President Donald Trump’s policies affecting the capital. “People are tired of hearing what government can’t do. They want to hear what government can do,” Lewis George said in an interview before her primary win. Her victory marks a potential break with a quarter-century of centrist leadership in the city.

In New York City, Zohran Mamdani defeated political scion Andrew Cuomo in the mayoral race, while Katie Wilson won an upset victory to become mayor of Seattle last fall. In Los Angeles, Nithya Raman secured a spot in the November runoff against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. All of these candidates are members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), an organization whose membership has grown from a few thousand to over 100,000 nationwide in the last decade, following the presidential campaigns of Senator Bernie Sanders. While there is little evidence of national coordination among these candidates, they are channeling voter dissatisfaction with the political status quo and a hunger for economic populism that the establishment Democratic Party has not fully embraced.

“They are all channeling a displeasure with a status quo and a serious desire for economic populism that the establishment Democratic Party hasn’t been preaching,” said Eric Stern, a Democratic strategist with the consulting firm Fight Agency, which worked on Mamdani’s campaign. Stern noted that Democratic voters appear more willing to support progressive candidates in mayoral races than in congressional contests, urging them to “dream and fall in love not just with the individual candidates but also the political process as a whole.”

The rise of democratic socialists in urban politics comes with both opportunities and challenges. While these leaders promise improved public services and a new kind of governance, they will face pressure to deliver results in areas like crime, public safety, and economic recovery. The trend has limits; Democratic mayors in cities such as Atlanta, Houston, Miami, and San Francisco have recently won on more moderate platforms. Furthermore, progressive figures have faced setbacks, including Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who has drawn criticism from moderate and liberal leaders on issues like immigration and budgeting. Recalls have ousted progressive prosecutors in several jurisdictions as criminal justice reform encountered public dissatisfaction post-pandemic. President Trump’s hardline immigration and law enforcement strategies pose additional challenges for liberal cities trying to advance their agendas.