New York DSA Chapter Votes to Urge Ocasio-Cortez to Run for President

The New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, commonly known as DSA, has voted to urge Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to enter the race for the US presidency in 2028. The decision, made during the chapter’s convention on Saturday, could act as an early indicator of the direction the Democratic Party may take in the upcoming presidential election.

The resolution passed with a vote of 291 to 123. Although this is not a formal endorsement from the national DSA organization, it commits the local chapter to actively encouraging a presidential bid and laying the groundwork for a potential campaign. Gustavo Gordillo, the co-chair of the New York City DSA, told Al Jazeera that if the US can elect Donald Trump, it can also elect Democratic Socialists.

The convention took place following a significant performance by DSA-endorsed candidates in the recent midterm elections. A record eight candidates backed by the group were elected to federal office and are set to hold congressional seats starting in January. This electoral success has increased the chapter's influence in shaping progressive politics across the country.

Ocasio-Cortez, widely known as AOC, is a longtime member of the New York City DSA, which covers her home city. The chapter, which has approximately 15,000 members, has become one of the most influential branches of the movement. It endorsed Mayor Zohran Mamdani last year and has supported Ocasio-Cortez in all five of her congressional general elections since 2018.

Grace Mausser, another co-chair of the New York City DSA, noted that the chapter’s recent successes have given it a prominent voice. She stated that regardless of how politicians feel about the DSA personally, they are now paying close attention to the group’s statements and actions. Mausser described the chapter as one of the biggest political actors in the city, the state, and the country.

Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat representing New York’s 14th congressional district, gained national prominence in 2018 after defeating a ten-term incumbent in a primary election. As a prominent Democratic Socialist, she has championed policies such as universal healthcare, tuition-free public college, and stronger labor protections.

The chapter has not yet finalized a national presidential platform. Mausser explained that the platform will be built around issues that members encounter when speaking directly with voters. She identified housing, healthcare, and childcare as the top concerns, describing them as the hallmarks of affordability that would form the core of a federal platform.

The text of the resolution states that a campaign would offer an opportunity to continue crafting a platform that engages the working class. It also lists specific priorities, including public housing, stopping the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, labor organizing, and supporting the anti-war and pro-Palestine movements.

This vote adds to the growing efforts on the left to persuade Ocasio-Cortez to run for president in 2028. It follows a debate within the national DSA over a possible endorsement and the launch of an independent campaign called Ready for AOC, which is urging her to enter the race.

Ocasio-Cortez has previously indicated that she will decide on her political future after the midterm elections. This leaves open the possibility that she may run for the presidency in 2028 or instead challenge for a seat in the US Senate.