More than a dozen Democratic Socialists won last night in a wave of rose emojis

In 2017 — in some parts of the country, at least  — socialism is no longer a dirty word.

For months, the number of takes about the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) greatly outpaced the number of elected offices they held. While that’s still entirely true, Tuesday’s election  night gains for the group were fairly substantial. The Democratic Socialists picked up a historic 15 seats across the country, adding to the 20 members they already have in office. 

Without context, that number may seem kinda weak. Historically, however, it has value. The DSA saw a 75% increase in elected officials last night, as well as something of a spiritual rebrand. It’s a percentage that shouldn’t be ignored, especially when you consider the group’s unexpectedly diverse geographic appeal. Read more…

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