Chicago Democratic Socialists of America

Chicago Democratic Socialists of America
AbbreviationChicago DSA or CDSA
Ideology
Political positionLeft-wing
National affiliationDemocratic Socialists of America
City Council caucusChicago City Council Democratic Socialist Caucus
Citywide executive offices
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Chicago City Council
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Website
chicagodsa.org

The Chicago Democratic Socialists of America (Chicago DSA or CDSA) is the Chicago local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), a democratic socialist organization in the United States.[1] In the late 2010s and early 2020s, Chicago DSA became a significant force in city politics through Chicago City Council campaigns and the formation of a socialist caucus within the council.[2][3][4]

In city elections, candidates associated with Chicago DSA have generally run on the Democratic Party ballot line.[5]

History

Origins and pre-2016 development

In 1982, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) formed as a merger of the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee and the New American Movement, which had been headquartered in Chicago.[1][6]

Chicago DSA has hosted the DSA National Convention in 1991,[7] 2009,[8][9] 2017,[10] 2023,[11] and 2025.[12]

Post-Bernie growth

Chicago DSA grew as part of DSA's post-2016 expansion following Bernie Sanders' first presidential campaign and the election of Donald Trump.[13][1] The 2017 DSA national convention in Chicago reflected this shift, rising from 120 to over 800 delegates, who were several times younger than the pre-Bernie DSA.[14][15][16]

Electoral campaigns

City Council

In the 2015 Chicago aldermanic election, Chicago DSA participated in city-level socialist electoral organizing around Jorge Mújica's aldermanic campaign. Although Mújica lost, this campaign prefigured later chapter electoral strategy.[17][18][19] Carlos Ramirez-Rosa won his city council election and later joined Chicago DSA in 2017.[20][21] Ramirez-Rosa was the youngest Chicago city councilor yet elected and its first democratic socialist.[22]

In 2017, Illinois state Senator Daniel Biss, candidate for the 2018 Illinois gubernatorial election, selected Ramirez-Rosa to run for lieutenant governor on his ticket. Less than one week later, Ramirez-Rosa left the Biss campaign, because Ramirez-Rosa would not denounce Chicago DSA's support for the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.[23][24]

In the 2019 Chicago aldermanic election, six DSA members won or retained seats on the Chicago City Council, giving democratic socialists their largest bloc in the body in living memory.[25][3][4] Chapter endorsements in 2019 also included Ugo Okere in the first round of the 40th Ward race; Okere was eliminated, and Chicago DSA endorsed Andre Vasquez in the runoff, which Vasquez won.[26][27] These socialist alderpeople informally organized as a Socialist Caucus. On May 1, 2021, five members formally launched the Chicago City Council Democratic Socialist Caucus.[28][29] The caucus has generally operated alongside the Chicago City Council Progressive Reform Caucus while pursuing a more explicitly socialist policy agenda.[28]

In the 2023 Chicago aldermanic election, six Chicago DSA-endorsed candidates won election or re-election. Winners included incumbents Daniel La Spata, Jeanette Taylor, Byron Sigcho-Lopez, Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez, and Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, along with challenger Angela Clay. Additional chapter-endorsed candidates, including Nick Ward and Ambria Taylor, were defeated.[30][31]

In February 2025, Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson appointed Ramirez-Rosa as General Superintendent and CEO of the Chicago Park District.[32] Johnson nominated Anthony Quezada, a DSA-endorsed member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners and former staffer of Ramirez-Rosa, to fill Ramirez-Rosa's seat. He was subsequently confirmed by a vote of the city council.[33]

U.S. House of Representatives

In the 2026 U.S. House of Representatives elections in Illinois, Chicago DSA has endorsed and supported alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez's independent campaign for the 4th district.

Other campaigns

Labor organizing

During the 2019 Chicago Public Schools strike, Chicago DSA ran chapter-wide strike solidarity operations, including canvassing, picket-line support, and the "Bread for Ed" effort with Chicago Jobs with Justice to fund and distribute meals for students and strikers.[34][35]

Tenant organizing

In 2018 and 2019, Chicago DSA participated in Lift the Ban's tenant campaign to repeal Illinois' rent-control preemption law through coalition work, precinct-level referenda, and neighborhood canvassing.[36][37][38]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Dorrien, Gary (2021). American Democratic Socialism: History, Politics, Religion, and Theory. Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300262360.
  2. ^ O'Brien, Kathleen (May 1, 2019). "Chicago Democratic Socialists Celebrate City Council Wins, Plan For Future: 'I Never Imagined We Would Have 6'". Block Club Chicago.
  3. ^ a b "Democratic socialists now control one-tenth of the Chicago City Council". Chicago Sun-Times. April 3, 2019.
  4. ^ a b Uetricht, Micah (June 29, 2019). "Chicago's democratic socialists promise change as they take office". The Guardian.
  5. ^ Sato, Mia (July 2, 2019). "What The Gov: What Does It Mean To Have Six Democratic Socialists on the Chicago City Council?". Better Government Association. Better Government Association.
  6. ^ Elbaum, Max (2002). Revolution in the Air. Verso. ISBN 9781859846179.
  7. ^ Mosley, Bill (May 2020). "The Early 1990s (1990–1995) - Metro DC DSA". Metro DC DSA.
  8. ^ Barrosse, Emilia (November 16, 2009). "Evanston hosts Democratic Socialists of America national convention". The Daily Northwestern. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  9. ^ Grossman, Ron (November 15, 2009). "Socialists arrive in Evanston for national convention". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on April 26, 2010.
  10. ^ Krieg, Gregory (August 8, 2017). "Democratic Socialists are taking themselves seriously. Should Democrats? | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  11. ^ "2023 DSA National Convention Retrospective: 'The Point, However, Is to Change It'". washingtonsocialist.mdcdsa.org. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  12. ^ Janssen, Emma. "DSA Convenes, Argues, and Celebrates". prospect.org. The American Prospect. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  13. ^ Day, Meagan; Uetricht, Micah (2020). Bigger Than Bernie: How We Go from the Sanders Campaign to Democratic Socialism. Verso. ISBN 9781839761355.
  14. ^ Weigel, David (August 6, 2017). "The socialist movement is getting younger, thanks to one 75-year-old". The Washington Post.
  15. ^ Krieg, Gregory (August 8, 2017). "Democratic Socialists are taking themselves seriously. Should Democrats?". CNN.
  16. ^ Brogan, Jacob (August 23, 2017). "Beyond the Bernie bro: Socialism's diverse new youth brigade". Chicago Reader.
  17. ^ Mortazavi, Andrew (May 1, 2014). "One, Two, Many Sawants? Chicago Activists Announce Socialist Candidate for City Council". In These Times.
  18. ^ "Taking on Rahm". Jacobin. February 9, 2015.
  19. ^ "DSA Chapters: Propose National Candidate Endorsements by June 1 — Here's Why". Democratic Left (DSA). May 15, 2017.
  20. ^ Hébert-Daly, Corinne (May 30, 2018). "Beyond the Bernie Bro: Socialism's Diverse New Youth Brigade". Chicago Reader. Archived from the original on September 27, 2024.
  21. ^ Bruenig, Matt (July 16, 2018). "Democrats ignore the left at their peril: Midwesterners aren't scared of socialism". NBC News. Archived from the original on December 19, 2025.
  22. ^ Schorsch, Kristen (February 28, 2025). "Ramirez-Rosa to Lead Chicago Park District as Rosa Escareño Retires". WBEZ. Archived from the original on February 11, 2026.
  23. ^ Uetricht, Micah (December 5, 2017). "Two Progressives Are Fighting to Represent Chicago in Congress". The Nation. Archived from the original on December 5, 2017.
  24. ^ "Biss Drops Ramirez-Rosa From Ticket in Bid for Illinois Governor". NBC Chicago. September 6, 2017. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020.
  25. ^ "Chicago City Council Election: Democratic Socialists gain seats on Chicago City Council". ABC 7 Chicago. April 3, 2019.
  26. ^ "2019 Chicago aldermanic election". Wikipedia.
  27. ^ "Today Chicago, Tomorrow Your City". Democratic Socialists of America.
  28. ^ a b Blumberg, Nick (July 3, 2019). "City Council Caucus Chairs on Chicago's Future". WTTW News.
  29. ^ Kapos, Shia (May 3, 2021). "BUSTOS' EXIT AND THE REMAP — DUCKWORTH'S DUCKS IN A ROW — SCHOOL BOARD HEAD-TURNER". Politico.
  30. ^ "2023 Chicago aldermanic election". Wikipedia.
  31. ^ "It's Possible to Run for Office as an Unapologetic Socialist and Win". Truthout.
  32. ^ Myers, Quinn; Parrella-Aureli, Ariel. "Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa Tapped As Next Park District Boss. Now, Logan Square Needs A New Alderman". Block Club Chicago. Block Club Chicago. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
  33. ^ Giangreco, Leigh. "Council Confirms Quezada". South Side Weekly. South Side Weekly. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
  34. ^ Schuba, Tom (October 20, 2019). "Democratic socialists on front lines of teachers strike aim to 'put the pressure on Mayor Lightfoot'". Chicago Sun-Times.
  35. ^ "How Chicago Educators Joined Together for their Community". Jobs With Justice. November 2019.
  36. ^ Sudo, Chuck (June 27, 2018). "A Look At The Calls For And Against Repealing Illinois' Rent Control Ban". Bisnow.
  37. ^ Ross, Fran Spielman (March 2, 2019). "Rent control gains momentum after Chicago voters again give it thumbs up". Chicago Sun-Times.
  38. ^ "The Right to Rent Control". Jacobin. April 20, 2018.
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