A “blue wave” swept the midterm elections, as Democratic candidates secured victories across the country. In Los Angeles County, democratic socialists had a particularly successful run, ushering in a new era of progressive local government.
Most notably, a candidate endorsed by the L.A. chapter of Democratic Socialists of America-backed will be L.A.’s next mayor. Nithya Raman was projected to defeat incumbent Democratic candidate Karen Bass on Nov. 5, who conceded after a close race. Raman received 54.8 percent of the vote, and Bass received 45.2 percent.
While the two candidates advocated for many of the same priorities, they differed in their ideas about how to address issues like the homelessness crisis and the role of the L.A. Police Department.
In her election night speech, Raman argued that Angelenos were hungry for change, and that establishment Democrats like Bass had been maintaining a broken status quo. With many other DSA victories across the county, it seems this messaging may have resonated with voters. DSA-LA endorsed nine candidates in the Nov. 3 election, of which eight are expected to have won their races so far.
DSA candidate Marissa Roy won the race for L.A. City Attorney, over Republican John McKinney. Roy received a significant majority of the vote with 68.5 percent. Angela Gonzales-Torres won a seat in the House of Representatives for California’s 34th Congressional District, over incumbent Democrat Jimmy Gomez, also with a strong majority, 62.1 percent of the vote.
Mike Van Gorder and Nolan Southerland are both poised to be elected to Burbank City Council, receiving 14.7 and 12.9 percent of the vote, respectively, making them the second and third most popular candidates.
This will make the Burbank City Council the second-ever majority democratic socialist city council in the country, and the first on the West Coast, according to a social media post from DSA-LA. Stephen Post is also poised to hold a seat on the West Hollywood City Council, with 12.4 percent of the vote.
DSA-backed candidate Estefany Castañeda won the election for Centinela Valley Union High School District Board and Yaritza González won the Inglewood Unified School Board.
As of Friday, the L.A. City Council District Nine race is still too close to call, with DSA-LA endorsing candidate Estuardo Mazariegos who is running against nonpartisan candidate Jose Ugarte. Ugarte holds a slim lead over Mazariegos currently, with 50.2 percent to Mazariegos’ 49.8 percent.
With this clear show of support for DSA candidates, Angelenos may be increasingly gravitating toward socialist policies, moving away from the establishment democrats who have historically held power in the county.
According to DSA-LA’s party program, to secure an endorsement and maintain a relationship with the organization, candidates must commit to support its goals. DSA-LA states some of the most important issues it seeks to address are housing and tenant power, union rights, immigrant rights, Medicare for All and climate justice.
The DSA’s program aims to distinguish itself from the Democratic Party by developing “radical policy and budget priorities with electeds who are rooted in our everyday working class struggles.”
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