Oct 18, 2026 · 15 min
How the DSA turned local organizing into national influence
How Socialists Used Trump To Build A Nationwide Movement
The episode examines how a once-small socialist network gained electoral and ideological influence—and what its organizing model demands from conservatives.
- 1The Democratic Socialists of America grew from roughly 21 chapters in 2013 to more than 200 today through local organizing and opposition to Donald Trump.
- 2DSA-backed candidates find greater success in state and local races, where lower costs and community networks can make small groups decisive.
- 3The organization has pushed ideas once considered fringe toward wider acceptance among Democrats, especially as its membership attracts younger voters.
Don't miss
Brooke Medina explains why local races give the DSA a strategic advantage: lower costs and community organizing can make small groups decisive.
The brief
Brooke Medina describes how the Democratic Socialists of America grew from roughly 21 chapters in 2013 to more than 200 today, expanding into nearly every state.
The DSA’s momentum surged during the Trump era and again in 2024, while its activity quieted under Biden as it worked within Democratic Party infrastructure.
Its strongest electoral results have come in state and local races, where lower costs and community organizing let relatively small groups shape outcomes.
The organization has also shifted Democratic debate, helping move ideas such as abolishing ICE from the fringe toward greater acceptance among younger voters.
The closing tension is practical: conservatives must answer the DSA’s sense of community with stronger engagement through churches, families, neighborhoods, and civic organizations.
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