Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America

Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America
AbbreviationMDC DSA or Metro DC DSA
Founded1982
Ideology
Political positionLeft-wing
National affiliationDemocratic Socialists of America
Citywide executive offices
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DC Council
2 / 13
DC shadow senators
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DC nonvoting delegate to the US House
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DC shadow representative[a]
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Website
mdcdsa.org

The Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America (MDC DSA or Metro DC DSA) is the Washington metropolitan area chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). MDC DSA organizes in Washington, D.C., southern Maryland, and Northern Virginia.[1] MDC is the 3rd-largest DSA chapter, below DSA-LA and above Portland DSA.

MDC DSA has been active in local electoral campaigns, tenant organizing, labor solidarity efforts, and protest mobilizations.[2][3][4][5]

Notable MDC DSA members include Janeese Lewis George, Zachary Parker, and Oye Owolewa.

History

In 1982, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) formed as a merger of the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee and the New American Movement. DSA had two Washington area chapters: A larger DC/MD chapter and a smaller Northern Virginia (NOVA) chapter, divided by the Potomac River.[6][7]

Many DSA and DC/MD DSA members participated in the April 17-19, 1986 founding convention of the National Rainbow Coalition, held at the Washington Convention Center. IAM President and DSA National Vice-Chair William Winpisinger wrote the introduction Jackson's keynote speech.[8] The DC/MD chapter hosted the 1987 DSA National Convention in the First Congregational United Church of Christ, where members voted to endorse Jesse Jackson for president.[9] Jackson, hoping to win over moderates, requested DSA un-endorse him.[10] The 1993 DSA National Convention endorsed the statehood for DC.[8]

In 2009, the NOVA and DC/MD chapters merged into one chapter, Metro DC DSA, with branches in NOVA, DC, and several MD towns.[11]

In 2016, MDC DSA grew dramatically, alongside national DSA, after Bernie Sanders' first presidential campaign and the election of Donald Trump.[12][13]

Electoral campaigns

Metro DC DSA has participated in local elections through canvassing and ballot campaigns.

Elected offices

Metro DC DSA backed Janeese Lewis George in the 2020 Ward 4 Democratic primary. She defeated incumbent Brandon Todd in the primary, 10,965 votes to 8,624 votes.[14][2][15]

A wider progressive slate in 2020 included MDC DSA endorsements in city races such as Ed Lazere's at-large campaign.[16]

In 2021, MDC DSA did not endorse Oye Owolewa, a MDC DSA member,[17] in his run for District of Columbia shadow representative, in order to focus on other races.[18] Owolewa had won the 2020 Shadow Representative election Democratic primary with 74,101 votes (95.8%)[19] and the general with 240,533 votes (81.60%).[20] In 2022, Owolewa won the primary with 54,317 votes (51.6%) and general with 140,502 votes (83.5%).[21] In 2024, Owolewa won the primary with 46,582 votes (57.7%)[22] and general with 267,661 votes (90.75%).[23] In 2026, Owolwewa declined to run[24] in order to join the 2026 Council of the District of Columbia election.[25]

In 2022, MDC DSA endorsed Zachary Parker in the Ward 5 race.[26] Parker won the general election with 25,554 votes.[27][28]

Ballot measure

In 2022, Metro DC DSA endorsed Brandy Brooks for an at-large seat on the Montgomery County Council. After a campagin staffer accused Brooks of sexual harassment, the Brooks campaign ended and MDC DSA rescinded its endorsement.[29][3]

The endorsement dispute became part of broader tensions in Montgomery County's progressive coalition during the 2022 at-large race.[3]

The chapter organized for Initiative 82, a District ballot measure to phase out the tipped minimum wage. District voters approved the initiative in the 2022 general election.[30][31][27]

Other campaigns

Labor organizing

MDC DSA's labor activity has included solidarity actions with labor union campaigns in the Washington region.[32][33][32] In 2022, MDC DSA organized a solidarity rally for Starbucks Workers United in Arlington during a national strike day.[34]

Tenant organizing

Metro DC DSA's tenant campaign is called Stomp Out Slumlords (SOS). The campaign has organized in apartment complexes including Southern Towers and Marbury Plaza.[4] During the COVID-19 pandemic, SOS organized tenants to attempt rent-strike mobilizations for rent cancellation, emergency assistance, and a temporary rent freeze.[35] In 2021, SOS and other housing activists protested outside the home of White House domestic policy adviser Susan Rice to demand a federal eviction-moratorium extension.[5] SOS supported the District's temporary 2022 rent-freeze legislation.[36] In 2025, SOS participated in anti-displacement protests linked to redevelopment plans at the Bradley Lane site and debates over changes to D.C.'s housing policy agenda.[37]

Issue campaigns

Metro DC DSA supported the We Power DC's utility-affordability advocacy, which supports public ownership of DC's electric utility distribution system.[38][39] We Power DC has opposed repeated Pepco rate increases and supported Office of the People's Counsel litigation challenging the Public Service Commission's multiyear rate-plan approvals.[39]

In 2018, MDC DSA members confronted Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen at a Washington restaurant during protests over family-separation immigration policy. Other diners applauded them.[40]

In April 2025, MDC DSA members participated in downtown street blockages organized with other groups to mark the first 100 days of Donald Trump's second administration.[41] MDC DSA also joined the Free DC marches to oppose Trump's deployment of the National Guard to DC.[42]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Owolewa is an MDC DSA member but not an MDC DSA endorsee.

References

  1. ^ "Structure and Campaigns". Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  2. ^ a b Brice-Saddler, Michael; Nirappil, Fenit (June 3, 2020). "Brandon Todd loses to George in Ward 4; Jack Evans loses comeback bid". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  3. ^ a b c Morris, Allison; Brown, Ariel M. (June 17, 2022). "Montgomery County Democratic Party pulls endorsement from Brandy Brooks over tweets". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  4. ^ a b "These Landlords File the Most Evictions in D.C." Washington City Paper. 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  5. ^ a b Cayetano, Czarina Faye O. (January 31, 2021). "'Shame, shame!': Protest held outside Susan Rice's home over evictions as housing prices rise". Street Sense Media. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  6. ^ Dorrien, Gary (2021). American Democratic Socialism: History, Politics, Religion, and Theory. Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300262360.
  7. ^ Elbaum, Max (2002). Revolution in the Air. Verso. ISBN 9781859846179.
  8. ^ a b Mosley, Bill (May 2020). "The Early 1990s (1990–1995) - Metro DC DSA". Metro DC DSA.
  9. ^ "The Later 1980s (1986–1989) - Metro DC DSA". washingtonsocialist.mdcdsa.org. Retrieved 2024-07-17.
  10. ^ Oreskes, Michael (December 4, 1987). "JACKSON TO SHUN SOCIALIST BACKING". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
  11. ^ Bromley, Carl. "Introduction". Washington Socialist. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  12. ^ Day, Meagan; Uetricht, Micah (2020). Bigger Than Bernie: How We Go from the Sanders Campaign to Democratic Socialism. Verso. ISBN 9781839761355.
  13. ^ Fisher, Marc (June 10, 2020). "This year's progressive candidates in D.C. are trying to ride the wave that transformed American politics in 2018". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  14. ^ Baca, Alex (February 28, 2020). "Meet the Ward 4 Democratic primary candidates for DC Council". Greater Greater Washington. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  15. ^ "June 2, 2020 Primary Election Certified Results (PDF)" (PDF). District of Columbia Board of Elections. June 17, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  16. ^ Grablick, Colleen; Baskin, Morgan (November 5, 2020). "They Didn't 'Paint The Town Ed,' But Progressives Have Hope In New Councilmembers". DCist. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  17. ^ "Metro DC DSA Candidate Endorsement Questionnaire" (PDF). Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America. October 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-11-29. Why are you soliciting Metro DC DSA's endorsement for this office? I'm a member of the DSA and my values align with the DSA
  18. ^ "2021 December Local Elections – Steering, Electoral Endorsement, and Priority Campaign Results". Metro DC DSA Member Portal. December 19, 2021. Archived from the original on 2022-05-25.
  19. ^ "DCBOE Election Results". electionresults.dcboe.org. Retrieved September 2, 2020. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ "General Election 2020 - Certified Results". District of Columbia Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 4 November 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  21. ^ "DCBOE Election Results". electionresults.dcboe.org. Archived from the original on June 22, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  22. ^ "District of Columbia Shadow Representative Primary Election Results". The New York Times. June 4, 2024.
  23. ^ "General Election 2024 - Certified Results". District of Columbia Board of Elections. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  24. ^ Allen, Gabby (August 22, 2025). "DC Representative Owolewa says he will not seek re-election". DC News Now. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  25. ^ Harrell, Princess (September 9, 2025). "Rep. Oye Owolewa launches bid to unseat DC Councilmember Anita Bonds in at-large race". WJLA. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  26. ^ "D.C. 2022 elections guide: Who is running?". The Washington Post. May 13, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  27. ^ a b "November 8, 2022 General Election Certified Results (PDF)" (PDF). District of Columbia Board of Elections. November 8, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  28. ^ Weil, Julie Z. (May 12, 2022). "Janeese Lewis George endorses Zachary Parker for Ward 5 council seat". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  29. ^ Tan, Rebecca (April 15, 2022). "Montgomery candidate suspended by progressive groups after campaign manager accused of sexual harassment". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  30. ^ Manton, Jack (August 19, 2024). "At the Ballot Box: Metro DC DSA Labor Is Building A Better Future Through Endorsements". Democratic Left. Democratic Socialists of America. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  31. ^ Brasch, Ben (November 9, 2022). "D.C.'s Initiative 82 appears to pass, raising tipped minimum wage". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  32. ^ a b Wadlin, Laura (July 6, 2018). "Metro D.C. DSA Goes to Work in Primary". Democratic Left. Democratic Socialists of America. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  33. ^ Fox, Ethan (January 2023). "Metro DC DSA Annual Report: 2022". Washington Socialist. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  34. ^ Blitz, Matt (December 6, 2022). "Major rally planned in Courthouse to support of unionized Starbucks employees". ARLnow. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  35. ^ Lang, Marissa J. (April 30, 2020). "D.C. tenants plan rent strikes, hoping for city's help as coronavirus shutdown continues". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  36. ^ Koma, Alex (July 12, 2022). "Council Passes Rent Freeze Bill with Temporary Tenant Protections". Washington City Paper. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  37. ^ Brezina, Lukas (August 12, 2025). "Housing advocates call for anti-displacement measures as Mayor Bowser unveils social housing plan". Street Sense Media. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  38. ^ "About Us". We Power DC. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  39. ^ a b Airey, Sloane (August 1, 2025). "Pepco Raked in $108 Million Thanks To Recent Rate Increases. Another Bump Could Kick in Next Year, But It's Being Challenged in Court". Washington City Paper. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  40. ^ Flynn, Meagan (June 20, 2018). "Kirstjen Nielsen heckled by protesters at Mexican restaurant. Other diners applauded them". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  41. ^ "Activists Shut Down Streets to Protest 100 Days of Trump Administration". Hill Rag. April 30, 2025. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  42. ^ Seddiq, Oma (September 6, 2025). "In Washington, anxiety and anger in response to Trump administration cuts and policy changes". Associated Press. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
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