Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Zohran Mamdani during a "Get Out The Vote" rally in Brooklyn on June 18, 2026.
The DSA’s 2028 presidential ambitions are about a strategic pivot.
The Surge of Democratic Socialism in 2026
The DSA’s recent success is no accident. Since Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign, the group has steadily built a brand as “fighters” with a populist economic message.
Navigating Controversy and Criticism
Yet, the DSA’s rise is not without friction. The group has faced scrutiny over its candidates’ past statements, such as Darializa Avila Chevalier’s controversial posts on X. Romer acknowledges the challenges: “We’re dealing with imperfect, messy people. But we’re also building a movement that prioritizes substance over perfection.”
The movement’s stance on Israel has also drawn fire.
The Road to 2028: Ambitions and Challenges
The DSA’s 2028 presidential bid is both a goal and a test. “The Bernie Sanders campaign changed the face of the American left a bit,” Romer says. “So if we run a presidential candidate, we can at least make sure that there was a voice in the primary holding people to account.”
