The DSA branch has almost zero political power. Yes, Mamdani was elected. No, it was not because of DSA.

DSA has very limited understanding of the politics of power. Agree or disagree with their policy and advocacy, but they lack a unified, coherent policy platform. They take stances from (imo) good places and suggest proposals that are politically untenable (to say the least) and realistically ridiculous.

Mamdani is a unique politician. He is generationally charismatic, articulates the pragmatism behind solutions, and taps into the everyday struggles of citizens. When he talks about ideologically, it's soaring rhetoric about who we can be. His critiques, however, are often strongly tethered to tangible concerns (rent, food, education) vs. the DSA-type far left.

Source: worked in democratic politics, on a presidential campaign, with a wide range of people on the left (and "left") including DSA die hards.

>> the modern Democrats are primarily a corporate dominated party

> I suspect this is changing.

Nope. The democrats have been on the cusp of becoming serious for as long as I've been following politics. It's a con to get your hopes up. Don't.

[dead]