Democratic socialists ride wave of momentum in primaries from New York to Colorado

Surging membership and pro-Palestinian activism reshape debate on how campaigning movement governs in office

Inside a Brooklyn industrial garage turned underground event venue, local leaders of the Democratic Socialists of America urged hundreds of mostly young people last month to avoid complacency. Sure, New York City had a socialist representative in the US Congress, and just elected a socialist mayor. But they had so much more to do.

If we only elect Zohran, we only elect AOC, our project will have been a failure," Gustavo Gordillo, co-chair of the city's DSA chapter, told the assembled crowd. Our ambitions are so much higher than just a position in government. We want to transform the world."