August 11, 2023

DSA’s National Convention wrapped up on Sunday having elected a new National Political Committee and adopted a host of new resolutions and amendments. Members can head over to the #2023-national-convention Slack channel for additional details. Results of the NPC election, which include slate and faction information, are as follows:

• San Francisco based Red Star (3) — Megan R, John L, Sam HL. The Red Star candidates structured their campaign around good governance and internal structure building in the organization, in the process developing trust across a base of unaffiliated delegates at convention and through uniting a constellation of left-leaning caucuses.
• The Groundwork coalition (4) — Rose D, Frances G, Ashik S (formerly of Metro DC DSA) and Cara T. The Groundwork slate is made up of former members of the 2021 Green New Deal slate, and is focused broadly on anchoring ecosocialist politics, legislative advocacy and electoral organizing at the national level. The Coalition ran up big support from delegates in major cities.
• Bread & Roses caucus (3) — Alex P, Kristin S, Laura W. The caucus calls generally for rank-and-file labor organizing and prioritizing a break from the Democratic Party. 
• Socialist Majority Caucus (2) — Colleen J, Renee P. A caucus that generally pursues political realignment of the Democratic Party, with focus on labor solidarity and electoralism.
• Marxist Unity Group (2) — Rashad X, Amy W. A caucus spun out of the popular Cosmonaut publication, MUG has been focused on building up the DSA into an independent workers’ party. 
• Anti-Zionist Slate (1) — Ahmed H. The Anti-Zionist slate was formed out of the DSA’s BDS working group and is largely focused on strengthening DSA’s approach to BDS and Palestinian liberation, as well as internationalism within the organization.
• Independent (1) – Luisa M of Portland DSA. An active member of DSA’s International Committee.

In general context, this election appears to represent a one-vote swing to the “left,” with Bread & Roses likely to act as a swing vote. However, with no dominant faction all NPC members will need to work together to move the organization and their prerogatives. All NPC members have signed leadership pledges as part of their commitment to good governance: the pledge signed by Groundwork members and the Red Star pledge signed by the rest of the NPC candidates. In both pledges, candidates agreed to move away from online squabbles to focus more on productive disagreement, structure building, expanding transparency and expression of dissent through official DSA channels and publications instead of social media. Look out for deeper convention coverage in the Washington Socialist next week.