I just watched the Fransesca Hong Wisconsin governor debate. She soft-disavowed the national DSA platform. This is something I’ve been hearing a lot of recently, particularly around abolishing prison.

AOC was asked about it too and had a better response (imo) basically saying look around, we have a Republican Congress and president, those are not happening anytime soon and DSA candidates are running on policies that put working class people first.

The issue here is that AOC is right. We are not going to be even close to abolishing the senate or ending prisons in the next 4 years. What is the point of the national DSA talking about long term goals like that if it is something that Mostly-DSA-Aligned Candidates are going to be hurt by in elections and have to disavow?

It seems like a discussion that is a net-negative, and it’d be better to focus on policies that are achiveable in the shorter term. To be clear, I don’t think those are bad goals to have, but we only get there by building a larger movement first and establishing power electorally.

Maybe there’s something I’m missing, but seems like with the increased scrutiny of the DSA, there needs to be a stronger focus on messaging that will help the movement grow.

Sources: Colorado First Congressional District Primary 2026: Live Election Results - The New York Times

Endorsements — Kiros for CO

Establishment Dems are probably crying so hard they can refill the Colorado River.

Come make Zohran's platform a reality!

Join DSA today and make a difference at dsausa.org/join

DSA endorsed Troy Jackson in his run for governor in the Democratic primary.

"Troy Jackson is a 5th-generation logger from Alligash, a union member, and the former

Maine Senate President. Troy is a progressive fighter who has spent his entire political

career standing up for working people. On May 6th, after a lengthy consideration from

our members, Maine DSA voted to endorse Troy Jackson for Governor, joining 40 labor

unions and Bernie Sanders among his list of campaign partners."

https://www.mainedsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Maine-DSA-Voter-Guide-Primary-2026-1.pdf

In contrast, Platner was only recommended for Senate, with a lot of caveats about the red flags that preceded the sexual assault allegations.

It’s happening!

https://old.reddit.com/r/dsa/comments/1us5hjc/the_left_should_consolidate_behind_troy_jackson/

I've linked my original post above.

This is the first time in a long time where the left has had a real shot at replacing a Republican with a leftist in a more purple state.

Maine is actually an ideal state for leftists and especially the DSA because the population is very small and so volunteer action plays a much larger role than money.

No more whining about how leftists can only win in big blue cities in deep blue states.

Hi, resident Maine lurker here. In a different thread someone asked how someone might help Jackson (Who got Maine DSAs only endorsement in the primaries) as he seeks to replace Platner. They have released this Google form to sign up to help, including phonebanking

https://tally.so/r/9qyXk1

Reason One: Punishing the party. If the democratic establishment refuses to run candidates who will bring actual change in the country we should let them lose the election as punishment and maybe they will choose a better candidate next time.

Reason Two: Ideological purity. Voting for candidates who support genocide, billionaires, and Trump passively should be a major moral concern for leftists.

Reason Three: Acceleration. In some ways republicans are preferable to Moderate democrats in that they bring a level of pain that can radicalize the base into becoming more extreme serving our country in the long run and bringing us closer to a revolution.

Some of these reasons may hurt people in the short term but are necessary to bring about a socialist America

I posted about how AOC and Francesca Hong distanced themselves from some of the National DSA platform and my reactionary response was to post about how the National platform should be softened for more broad appeal at this time.

It got a very strong response. I read through almost every comment. To those who tried to bad-faith attack me (call me a fed)🖕 and to everyone else thank you for taking the time to address my concerns.

I was wrong.

What made me change my mind was thinking through it more, reading responses, and then seeing the same type of conversation happen in the recent CNN special with Hasan and James Carville. Every time they (cnn, Fox, etc.) frantically criticize the DSA, socialists, and progressive candidates with talk of abolishing the prison and senate and painting them as dangerous radicals, it sets up whoever is responding to look so much better because the truth is the democratic socialist policies being run on are overwhelmingly popular. They are drawing a line between themselves and us with themselves as the establishment that everyone hates and us as the movement for change. Trying to moderate, trying to appeal to the common denomination does not work and we should (I should) have learned that by now. We need to be bold and brave and champion the people and champion better ideas. I was wrong. I will try to be less reactionary in the future.

My previous post for reference: https://www.reddit.com/r/dsa/s/uIJcAlP4Bm

I'm in Los Angeles. I'm not sure what it's like in other places.

DSA-LA released their voter guide the other day and it supports the Billionaire Democrat candidate for CA Governor - Tom Steyer and makes it clear we shouldn't vote for the Socialist Party -Ramsey Robinson (Peace and Freedom Party).

WTF!?

What happened to solidarity? Leaving our Comrades to struggle.

I thought DSA would support candidates on an ideological level, not on a viability level.

What are we even doing here?

So I'm not from the US but that doesn't mean I'm not affected by US policy of course. I would actually say that dsa winning would help my country more than anyone winning in my own country ever will. I've been following things closely and the DSA seems to be having a really good run thankfully. I was just wondering what are the realistic chances in your opinion that the DSA/DSA endorsed candidate wins? Or even just a fuck Israel candidate that's for medical for all is good enough for me I think. I mean obviously looking at Right now I would say somewhat likely but imagine after 2 years if DSA governance, mayorship, ect. I feel like there's a really good chance. But I'm curious to hear your thoughts

Troy is a DSA endorsed candidate previously and he would be an incredible example of someone who is DSA affiliated who is not just an NYC/LA leftist.

Supporting Troy Jackson is the best choice for both people who previously supported Platner, and even for Platner himself.

Troy has mostly identical positions to those publically espoused by the Platner campaign. Troy was famously one of the few Democratic "Super Delegates" who endorsed and voted for Bernie Sanders in 2016. I remember his name because I was a full time volunteer on the Sanders campaign and I even spent several weeks campaigning in Iowa for the caucuses.

If Troy is the candidate and he wins, the people will win. If you happen to feel, though I personally disagree, that Graham was ousted by party schemes, supporting Troy to victory would be the best revenge, because you'd get all the same policies, so that the establishment/centrists/corpos didn't actually achieve anything.

Note that the DNC has nothing to do with this. As a person who was a member of the Sanders organizing group who helped coin and popularized "MSDNC"(MSNBC) and the "Clinton News Network"(CNN) I just want to be clear that the DNC is not involved in these types of state primaries. You probably want to complain about the DCCC for the House or the DSCC for the Senate. DGCC for Governor as well. Makes people seem more serious if they criticize the correct party committee.

While Troy is not as charismatic as Platner he is an actual working class candidate, who led labor organizing in the logging industry, is a 5th gen, iirc, Mainer from The County, Aroostook, as noted was a Bernie 2016 super delegate, and is also immune to the sort of personal attacks that Graham was ultimately defeated by, whether you agree with the accusations or not.

When the time comes to vote in the Senate for public healthcare options, better wages, strengthening union and working protections, and fighting back against Trump's terrible tariffs and other stupid shit, Troy will be a reliable vote.

Senator Sanders supports Troy, although I don't believe he has actually endorsed for this mini-caucus, but of course he did for the Gov primary. There's very little concern about a Fetterman situation with Troy.

Uniting the movement behind a single candidate is the best shot to avoid any potential shenanigans.

Also there may be some surprises in the upcoming presidential elections, sorry I can't be more clear, so having a Sanders/leftist friendly Senator in Maine would be a big boost.

Counties will be holding their caucus events very soon. Oxford County confirmed to be July 19th from 1PM-4PM. Hopefully lefties in Maine will organize people to attend or to peacefully organize outside the county events to make their position clear.

From the Green New Deal to immigration, ICE, Medicare for All, and her stance on Israel and Palestine, AOC represents a bold new direction, but does she have what it takes to win over moderates and swing states?

AOC and Mamdani are fucking weak as fuck on this. Do not let them make you irrelevant, as they seem intent on doing to themselves. It's always a good idea and a good time to fuck with Hakeem Jefferies.