Democratic Socialists Poised for Major Gains in Congress as ‘Squad’ Set To Expand

The Democratic Socialists of America core bloc in Congress — often dubbed the “Squad” — is expected to roughly double from seven members to as many as 16, a number that swells to two dozen when counting left-wing progressives who share similar views but aren’t formally tied to the DSA, according to new reports.Much will depend on how large a majority either party secures in Tuesday’s midterm election. If Democrats win a narrow majority just north of 218 seats, the expanded bloc could wield outsized influence — potentially tanking leadership-crafted House rules or forcing votes on controversial amendments.The DSA laid out its platform in a July 2026 document titled “Workers Deserve More,” organized around three pillars. On economic policy, the group calls for universal public social housing, single-payer “Medicare for All,” a 32-hour work week, free education through college, and abolishing ICE. On foreign policy, it pushes to defund military spending, close overseas bases, and end U.S. aid to Israel. On political reform, the platform calls for sweeping changes, including a new constitution, abolishing the Senate, and eliminating the Electoral College.Nationwide, DSA membership has more than doubled to 126,000 over the past two years, and the organization reports 338 candidates ran this cycle — up from 90 in 2025. A Brookings Institution study counted 282 DSA-backed candidates nationally, with 19 winning primaries in races for national office.Several newcomers are expected to join the ranks of Congress after defeating established incumbents.Darializa Avila Chevalier of New York, a former campaign field staffer for Mew York Mayor Zohran Mamdami, unseated longtime Representative Adriano Espaillat in upper Manhattan and the Bronx. “I think folks are really tired of politics that seems more beholden to donors,” she told the Associated Press.Melat Kiros of Colorado, a 29-year-old lawyer and doctoral student, beat 30-year incumbent Representative Diana DeGette. In her victory speech, she vowed to take the fight to “Donald Trump and the oligarchy” while pushing to abolish ICE and pass Medicare for All. “This is a movement,” Ms. Kiros said. “We are just getting started.”Donavan McKinney of Michigan, a state lawmaker, unseated Representative Shri Thanedar on a platform of utility reform and Medicare for All. “No longer can our party continue to serve two masters,” he said.Chris Rabb, a 10-year veteran of the Pennsylvania state House, won a four-way primary in a Philadelphia district. He backs abolishing ICE, a moratorium on data centers, and government-run grocery stores to address “food deserts.” “I believe that the Democratic Party listens more to people who fund it than the people who actually come out to vote,” Mr. Rabb said.Claire Valdez, a New York state lawmaker and part of a Mamdani-aligned slate, is expected to coast to victory in a deep-blue Brooklyn and Queens district. “Right now there’s really mass dissatisfaction with the way the party leadership has been operating,” she told the Associated Press.Other candidates share some DSA priorities without formal membership, including Army veteran Adam Hamawy in New Jersey and Angela Gonzales-Torres, who is challenging Representative Jimmy Gomez in Los Angeles.Not everyone is cheering for the shift. An October Fox News poll found that just 32 percent of voters view socialism favorably, up five points from a year earlier, while a March poll found 53 percent of voters under 30 favored moving away from capitalism toward socialism. Still, broader skepticism persists: an October CNBC poll found only 28 percent of voters identified the passage of DSA policies as their biggest concern under a new Democratic Congress — more than inflation or rising taxes.Republicans have seized on the numbers. “These communist wannabes would hold [likely Speaker] Hakeem Jeffries hostage until he helps them turn America into a socialist hellhole,” RNC spokesman Delanie Bomar said in a statement. Former RNC national spokesman Elizabeth Pipko added, “This is not just about the Squad doubling in size, but the consequences of the Squad possibly doubling in influence.”Supporters say the movement’s growth reflects grassroots organizing rather than top-down strategy. “We put in our sweat equity, we’ve put in time, we have put in dollars,” Austin DSA member Nathan Fernandes told the AP. “We make the DSA difference ourselves because special interests can buy elections, but people can’t buy what we have.”

Democratic Socialists Poised for Major Gains in Congress as ‘Squad’ Set To Expand

Democratic Socialists Poised for Major Gains in Congress as ‘Squad’ Set To Expand

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