Democratic Socialists Compared to Progressives: List of Elected DSA Members
Newsweek · C · trust 44/100
0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Several primary victories by left-leaning candidates and democratic socialists are reshaping the Democratic Party ahead of the 2026 midterms .
Left-leaning candidates are defeating moderates across the country, and some democratic socialists are defeating more mainstream progressives , potentially reshaping the Democratic caucus in the House of Representatives and Senate after the November elections.
Democratic fury over President Donald Trump’s administration has shaped recent primaries. But it isn’t just outrage over Trump that is fueling the progressive surge. Many Democrats are increasingly frustrated with Democratic leadership and what they view as a feeble response to the administration’s conservative agenda in Washington—fueling calls for new leadership and primaries against sitting Democrats.
The political left is poised to expand its ranks in Congress come November, but there are key distinctions in the types of progressives who could be entering its halls next year. While democratic socialists are expected to more than double their representation in Congress, many of the progressives winning their primaries do not really identify as democratic socialists.
Progressives and democratic socialists often have certain policies in common: support for Medicare for All or more stringent environmental protections, as well as critiques of U.S. foreign policy from both major parties, particularly in the Middle East. But there are some real differences that could play out as democratic socialists increase their presence in the next Congress.
Newsweek reached out to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and Representative Greg Casar, who chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), for comment via email.
Michigan’s primary this week became the latest battleground in the progressive versus moderate battle that has defined the primaries in the Democratic Party.
Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive, defeated centrist Representative Haley Stevens for the party’s nomination in what is likely to be one of the most competitive races of the 2026 midterms—a major victory for progressives hoping to prove they can win in swing states, not just safely Democratic districts.
Several democratic socialists have also won primaries. In New York, two DSA-affiliated candidates, Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila-Chevalier, were victorious , with the latter defeating a progressive incumbent.
Melat Kiros defeated Representative Diana DeGette in a Democratic primary for a Denver-based seat. DSA member Chris Rabb won an open race in a Philadelphia-based district, while Donavan McKinney defeated Representative Shri Thanedar in a Michigan primary earlier this week.
Several non-DSA progressives have also won. In New York, former City Comptroller Brad Lander defeated Representative Dan Goldman in a Democratic primary. While Goldman is a member of the CPC, some viewed him as insufficiently progressive to represent one of the most left-leaning districts in the country.
Several other candidates endorsed by the progressive group Justice Democrats have won their primaries, including Adam Hamawy in New Jersey, Justin Pearson in Tennessee and Frederick Haynes in Texas.
Most of those victories have been in solidly Democratic districts that are unlikely to become competitive in November. Pearson's Tennessee district is an exception, as it was redrawn to become more conservative in mid-decade redistricting. Generally, the party's voters put up more moderate candidates in tough races, as leaders believe they are better suited to win over independents.
Another anomaly is in Michigan, where progressive William Lawrence, a former DSA member, prevailed over more moderate Democrats in a competitive district based around Lansing. The race will be a major test for whether progressives can win in a purple district in November.
There are several key differences between democratic socialists and progressive Democrats. The term “progressive” is a broad term that generally incorporates the left-leaning angle of the party. Progressives can be, but not always, democratic socialists.
The line between progressives and democratic socialists is “blurry,” and not necessarily one that most voters are thinking about, Adam Carlson, founding partner at Zenith Research, told Newsweek.
The definition of “progressive” is not necessarily static.
Carlson noted that some members of the CPC are also in the more centrist New Democratic Coalition and may not necessarily be viewed as true progressives by some in the party’s left flank.
“While I think they have fit a prior version of what progressivism is, like a prior progressive candidate, I think that in today’s context a lot of them would be considered the ideological middle of the party,” he said. “The party just moved left, especially with the new incoming crop of anti-establishment, progressive left candidates.”
One major difference is that most progressives in Congress are capitalists.
Democratic socialists may seek to transform capitalism and support increased public ownership of certain industries, while many progressives prefer to regulate capitalism and oppose public ownership.
Even among progressives, there are policy differences. While many want to see a Medicare for All system, others have embraced a public option as an alternative healthcare system. Some want to see rent control and social housing, while others prefer to embrace stronger tenant protections.
Only the most engaged voters are likely to make the distinction between democratic socialists and progressives, according to Carlson.
While El-Sayed is often lumped in with many of the democratic socialists who have won their primaries, El-Sayed does not identify as one and is not affiliated with the DSA.
He told CBS News he is “not DSA” but…
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