JUNE 26, 2026

In DC, the District’s first ranked choice vote calculations were run on all races with three or more candidates in which no candidate received over 50% of the vote. No ranked choice calculation was needed in the mayoral election, as Metro DC DSA-endorsed candidate Janeese Lewis George dominated the field. She sits at 54% of the vote, with Kenyan McDuffie trailing in a distant second with 35%. The ranked choice calculations confirmed endorsed candidate Aparna Raj’s victory in the Ward 1 council race after four rounds. She has landed roughly 52% of the vote after these calculations. Non-endorsed candidate for At-Large on the council Oye Owolewa clinched victory after eight rounds of calculations with just over 50% of the vote.

Other races saw Robert White crush Brooke Pinto in the election to replace Eleanor Holmes Norton as DC’s Delegate to the House of Representatives (64% to 20%), Charles Allen and Zachary Parker coast to victory in their elections for Ward 6 and 5 respectively, and Elissa Silverman beat incumbent Doni Crawford in the special election for Kenyan McDuffie’s abandoned At-Large seat. All but Elissa Silverman’s At-Large victories are Democratic nominations, and the Democratic nominees are expected to win the general elections in November. Silverman’s At-Large seat will be back up for a vote in the general election as well and will be the race to watch in the District.

In Maryland, the socialist-backed Gabriel Acevero, running for reelection for Maryland’s House of Delegates in District 39, and Shayla Adams-Stafford, running for reelection for Prince George’s County Council representing District 6, both won their races. Endorsed candidate for Maryland Senate Raaheela Ahmed looks unlikely to overcome the lead of incumbent Ron Watson, and cadre candidate Imara Crooms is expected to come in second for the Prince George’s County District 9 seat. The races for Montgomery County Council At-Large and District 3 are still too close to call, with endorsed candidates Josie Caballero and Zola Shaw within striking distance of the lead with tens of thousands of votes to be counted. Local election officials in Maryland have until July 6 to certify the election results.

Join the chapter’s Electoral Working Group to discuss these races and what comes next on July 2 at 7pm. RSVP here.

There is notable news about non-endorsed candidates in Maryland to celebrate — Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando easily won the Montgomery County executive race, overcoming millions of dollars in real estate spending to defeat him. The local labor movement and progressive allies like CASA in Action, Progressive Maryland, and Jews United for Justice Campaign Fund endorsed Jawando, who has championed rent stabilization and tenant protections and local legislation to rein in ICE. Longtime DSA member and current Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich won an at-large seat on the County Council after being term-limited, and Amar Mukunda, an ally of Gabriel Acevero, looks poised to defeat incumbent State Senate Majority Leader Nancy King, who has been in the Maryland General Assembly since 2002.

Outside the immediate DMV area, Frederick DSA cadre member Christian Benford is leading in the primary for Frederick County Council District 3 and Southern Maryland DSA-endorsed McKayla Wilkes is leading in the primary for Charles County Commissioner, District 3. Greater Baltimore DSA also notched one of their first electoral wins in electing Ashley Esposito to Baltimore City’s Board of Education.

The socialist wave expanded far beyond the DMV. In New York City, NYC DSA collapsed the city’s machine politics, expanding their New York State Assembly representation. DSA’s congressional bench will also grow by two. In NY-13, Darializa Chevalier overcame a racist smear campaign from incumbent rep Adriano Espaillat, whose campaign was backed by pro-war dark money. In NY-7, UAW organizer Claire Valdez handily overcame Antonio Reynoso, a campaign backed by the Working Families Party. And in NY-10, close Zohran ally Brad Lander ousted Dan Goldman, a campaign backed by conservative forces in NYC’s Democratic Party.

These victories have led to a surge of new DSA members in the last 10 days. If you are one of them — or are considering joining — come to the chapter’s next virtual New Member Orientation on Wednesday, July 1 at 7pm. RSVP for Metro DC DSA’s next new member orientation.