Record number of DSA members become mayors, vowing to tackle rents and utility bills

A record number of members of Democratic Socialists of America, known as DSA, won city halls in last week's election. The Guardian reports that they now face a test of whether they can make life cheaper for working people ¹.

Nithya Raman was elected to lead Los Angeles, the second-largest U.S. city. Janeese Lewis George won in Washington, D.C. David Morales won in Providence, Rhode Island, and Yousef Rabhi won in Ann Arbor, Michigan ¹.

On tapeNBC News · Nov 6

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Who won, and what they promised

Raman defeated incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, the first challenger to unseat a sitting Los Angeles mayor since 2005, according to MyNewsLA.com ². As of Nov. 5, Raman had 52.70% of the vote to Bass's 47.30%, a lead of 47,253 votes, with ballots still being counted ². Bass conceded and said she had committed to "a smooth and seamless transition" ².

Raman, an urban planner, has promised more housing and better public transit ¹. Lewis George has campaigned on universal child care, public housing and stronger protections for tenants ¹. Morales has pitched affordable housing and wants corporations to pay a larger share toward public schools and city services ¹.

From Channel GOPMamdani says New York will not help ICEZohran Mamdani · 850 plays · captioned, with the source named

Rabhi has pledged to fight data centers and keep utility bills affordable ¹. They join a handful of socialist mayors in smaller cities, including Burlington, Vermont, and Irvine, California. They also join New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani ¹.

If politics cannot deliver on the block where you live, why would you trust it to deliver anywhere?

The Mamdani model

Mamdani is the group's best-known figure, and his win is widely credited with inspiring the surge of socialists into office, the Guardian reports ¹. He has focused on a rent freeze, universal child care and taxing the rich. His office says he has repaired more than 200,000 potholes since taking office ¹.

On tapeCNN · Nov 6

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Eric Blanc, a Rutgers University labor studies professor and DSA member, said Mamdani "already demonstrated proof of concept" ¹. That is one supporter's view. Mamdani's critics have mostly argued over issues with little to do with running a city, the Guardian says ¹.

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson calls herself a democratic socialist but is not a DSA member. She said mayors should do what is within their reach and keep close ties to the grassroots organizers who helped elect them ¹.

What happens next

Come January, the number of DSA members in Congress will quadruple to eight. More than 100 DSA-endorsed candidates will hold local, state or national office ¹. Mayors, though, run the day-to-day services, from garbage pickup to snow days ¹.

That matters because mayors will be the first progressives to have to show results after last week's wins ¹. Their power has limits. Rents, utility rates and child care depend partly on state and federal decisions, and Wilson said a mayor should still show residents "that you're fighting for them" ¹.

Raman said she would go to City Hall "every single day" to earn trust, including from Bass supporters and people who did not vote ². When the new mayors take office was not stated in the coverage reviewed for this report.

The Record

1. Nov 3, 2026Election Day: DSA members win mayoral races in Los Angeles, Washington, Providence and Ann Arbor ¹².
2. Nov 5, 2026Mayor Karen Bass concedes to Nithya Raman in Los Angeles ².
3. Nov 12, 2026The Guardian reports DSA members in Congress will quadruple to eight in January ¹.

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<h2>Record number of DSA members become mayors, vowing to tackle rents and utility bills</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Campaign Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/record-number-of-dsa-members-become-mayors-vowing-to-tackle-rents-and-utility-bills">The GOP Files</a> on Thursday, November 12, 2026.</em></p> <p>A record number of members of Democratic Socialists of America, known as DSA, won city halls in last week&#39;s election. The Guardian reports that they now face a test of whether they can make life cheaper for working people .</p> <p>Nithya Raman was elected to lead Los Angeles, the second-largest U.S. city. Janeese Lewis George won in Washington, D.C. David Morales won in Providence, Rhode Island, and Yousef Rabhi won in Ann Arbor, Michigan .</p> <h2>Who won, and what they promised</h2> <p>Raman defeated incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, the first challenger to unseat a sitting Los Angeles mayor since 2005, according to MyNewsLA.com . As of Nov. 5, Raman had 52.70% of the vote to Bass&#39;s 47.30%, a lead of 47,253 votes, with ballots still being counted . Bass conceded and said she had committed to &quot;a smooth and seamless transition&quot; .</p> <p>Raman, an urban planner, has promised more housing and better public transit . Lewis George has campaigned on universal child care, public housing and stronger protections for tenants . Morales has pitched affordable housing and wants corporations to pay a larger share toward public schools and city services .</p> <p>Rabhi has pledged to fight data centers and keep utility bills affordable . They join a handful of socialist mayors in smaller cities, including Burlington, Vermont, and Irvine, California. They also join New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani .</p> <blockquote><p>If politics cannot deliver on the block where you live, why would you trust it to deliver anywhere?</p><p>&mdash; Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York, Democratic Socialist</p></blockquote> <h2>The Mamdani model</h2> <p>Mamdani is the group&#39;s best-known figure, and his win is widely credited with inspiring the surge of socialists into office, the Guardian reports . He has focused on a rent freeze, universal child care and taxing the rich. His office says he has repaired more than 200,000 potholes since taking office .</p> <p>Eric Blanc, a Rutgers University labor studies professor and DSA member, said Mamdani &quot;already demonstrated proof of concept&quot; . That is one supporter&#39;s view. Mamdani&#39;s critics have mostly argued over issues with little to do with running a city, the Guardian says .</p> <p>Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson calls herself a democratic socialist but is not a DSA member. She said mayors should do what is within their reach and keep close ties to the grassroots organizers who helped elect them .</p> <h2>What happens next</h2> <p>Come January, the number of DSA members in Congress will quadruple to eight. More than 100 DSA-endorsed candidates will hold local, state or national office . Mayors, though, run the day-to-day services, from garbage pickup to snow days .</p> <p>That matters because mayors will be the first progressives to have to show results after last week&#39;s wins . Their power has limits. Rents, utility rates and child care depend partly on state and federal decisions, and Wilson said a mayor should still show residents &quot;that you&#39;re fighting for them&quot; .</p> <p>Raman said she would go to City Hall &quot;every single day&quot; to earn trust, including from Bass supporters and people who did not vote . When the new mayors take office was not stated in the coverage reviewed for this report.</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/record-number-of-dsa-members-become-mayors-vowing-to-tackle-rents-and-utility-bills">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/record-number-of-dsa-members-become-mayors-vowing-to-tackle-rents-and-utility-bills.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. The Guardian, “A record number of US democratic socialists will become mayors. They're out to prove their vision for affordability” (2026-11-12). theguardian.com/us-news/2026/nov/12/democratic-socialists-hi
2. MyNewsLA.com, “Raman Wins LA Mayor's Race; Bass Concedes, Promises Smooth Transition” (2026-11-05). mynewsla.com/government/2026/11/05/raman-wins-la-mayors-race

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