AOC once said, “In any other country, Joe Biden and I would not be in the same party.” She understands the need to collaborate with people with whom she has broad disagreements (a situation similar to working within DSA's "big tent.")
Progressive political candidates in 2026 are doing more than just trying to win an election. Sometimes politicians only think of how volunteers can serve the campaign, but that’s an ineffective view to building power.
Francesca Hong’s defeat was a setback for the Left. But lost in discussions of the campaign’s shortcomings is how much she actually accomplished. Hong may have opened the door to a new era of politics for Wisconsin and the Left more broadly.
“I think the question is, why has D.S.A. been able to build a really durable organization over the last decade? What Tascha brought was a sensibility about how to treat people and how to relate to people that is now built into the DNA of D.S.A.”
Zohran Mamdani’s victory was rooted in organizations that took up the base-building and mobilization functions that once fell to parties. When was the last time being on the left was fun? It was a year-long act of collective joy. We actually won.
The precariat rose up, with passion, desire for change, and votes. The issue was an excess compensation tax on corporations to fund social, economically integrated, affordable housing across Seattle which earlier had passed with a 26 percent margin.
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