Breaking History How the Democratic Socialists Conquered New York City
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Jun 30, 2026 
Harry Siegel, journalist and longtime New York City politics commentator, traces how the Democratic Socialists built power in NYC. He covers their grassroots organizing and post‑Trump momentum. He discusses shifts in voter demographics, controversies around Israel and policing, and what those wins mean for mainstream Democrats.
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Tiffany Caban's Narrow 2019 DA Near Win Energized DSA
- Tiffany Caban nearly beat the Queens district attorney in 2019, losing by a few dozen votes after a recount.
- That close loss energized organizers and convinced many activists the establishment could be challenged.
Selective Endorsements Multiplied DSA Gains
- Mayor-elect endorsements and targeted race selection amplified DSA influence.
- Zoran Mamdani cleared and picked the fights he wanted, personally intervening in DSA backing decisions to shape outcomes.
DSA Sees Local Races As Party Building
- The DSA is explicitly planning for long-term influence inside the Democratic Party, not just winning single races.
- Leadership spoke publicly about thinking how their local wins will shape who the party nominates in future national contests.