The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) anticipate that Zohran Mamdani will conform to their progressive agenda, as assertive members of its NYC chapter expressed during a meeting The Post attended recently.
The packed session, titled “NYC DSA 101,” held at the chapter’s modest headquarters on the Lower East Side, revealed the DSA’s substantial influence over its candidates, with chapter leaders touting a “symbiotic” relationship that extends beyond election day.
“Our endorsed candidates must reflect the will of the membership,” noted Darren Goldner, a chapter leader who facilitated the event.
“We collaborate closely with Zohran,” he continued. “Many members of Zohran’s staff are involved with the DSA.”
The DSA’s cadre of volunteers played a vital role in Mamdani’s rapid rise from a dark-horse candidate to the overwhelming Democratic nominee—a relationship that indicates the DSA’s influence will guide his policy directions if he wins the election.
“Without the DSA, Zohran’s mayoral run would never have materialized,” Goldner emphasized. “His campaign was fundamentally a DSA initiative from the outset.”
“We hadn’t even considered running a candidate for mayor,” he added, addressing whether Mamdani sought DSA endorsement or the chapter reached out to him.
One member proudly characterized the endorsement as “a pivotal moment in modern American history.”
The power-hungry leaders of the party reveled in their newfound authority.
“We’re gaining more influence!” exclaimed Goldner. “People are now asking us what we want—that’s not something that occurs often, and it’s critically important. Other leftist organizations aren’t necessarily garnering power in the same fashion.”
The NYC chapter, recognized as the largest and swiftly growing segment of the DSA, has surged to nearly 11,000 paying members from 8,000 earlier this year, predominantly comprising Brooklyn-based Gen Zs and Millennials, alongside a few Baby Boomers—Mamdani’s campaign contributing significantly to this influx. Mamdani recently celebrated the 10,000th member in July.
The gathering, held in a cramped and shabby ground-floor room on Jefferson Street, its walls painted a vibrant communist red, began with the distribution of nametags displaying pronouns, featured mentions of Karl Marx—the “original communist”—and concluded with new recruits receiving “Zohran for Mayor NYC DSA” buttons upon scanning a QR code to join the party.
Approximately 50 people attended, the maximum capacity for the room. The “101” meetings are scheduled multiple times each month, and attendees noted their need for a larger venue.
It was disclosed during the meeting that Mamdani is expected to meet weekly with party officials if he secures the mayoral position.
Through its “Socialists in Office Committee,” the NYC DSA consistently engages with endorsed officials to “align on what DSA-elected representatives should do and how they should vote,” as noted in materials shared at the session.
Such directives have been previously issued to Mamdani in his role as a Queens state assembly member since 2021.
In his legislative capacity, he has championed their radical agenda, introducing bills aligned with the NYC DSA legislative platform, including Cecila’s act, a proposal to decriminalize prostitution, measures to dismantle ICE facilities statewide, and an initiative for more “supervised injection” sites.
Andrew Cuomo, Mamdani’s principal rival in the mayoral race, questioned whether he was the one in charge or the DSA was calling the shots.
“According to DSA leaders, they have dictated his voting pattern over the years, crafted his platform, and now they openly claim that he will take their directives if he becomes mayor,” remarked Cuomo, who is now running as an independent after losing the June Democratic primary to Mamdani. “That’s not democracy; it’s a shadow government,” he criticized.
During the meeting, speakers condemned the Democratic Party for its disconnect, admitting to using the Democratic line on ballots merely as a strategy to secure a socialist’s election.
“In New York State, it’s challenging to secure a party line other than the Democratic Party,” Goldner explained when addressing whether the DSA has considered running candidates as independents.
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“Running as a Democrat is simply more practical for us right now,” he remarked, describing it as “advantageous.”
Goldner referred to the DSA’s unsuccessful effort to elect Jabari Brisport to the City Council in 2017 as a Green Party candidate and then supporting his 2021 comeback for state Senate as a Democrat.
This has remained a contentious point for the burgeoning socialist base, with Long Island Congressman Tom Suozzi suggesting they should depart the Democratic Party to establish their own.
A number of attendees on Wednesday expressed that they did not necessarily identify as Democrats.
“For me, I transitioned from the Democratic Party to join the DSA due to the latter’s commitment to a class-based analysis of societal issues—that’s something the Democratic Party lacks,” one member stated.
“I was inspired to join after becoming disillusioned with establishment Democrats, particularly influenced by Zohran’s campaign,” another new DSA member shared.
Members criticized the Democratic Party for “abandoning their trans and immigrant comrades” to appease more centrist factions and blamed Kamala Harris’ failed presidential bid on a campaign they deemed focused on “image” rather than “material issues.”
The NYC DSA and Mamdani’s campaign did not respond to The Post’s request for comment.
