Debating DSA's Electoral Strategy: NPC Candidates Weigh In

In this episode, we dig into the sharp debates and controversies surrounding DSA’s electoral work. My four guests were candidates for DSA's National Political Committee hoping to be among the 16 elected at the August National Convention of DSA in Chicago. Each represents a different DSA caucus.

The political make-up of the team elected to lead the largest socialist organization in the US is arguably the most important decision the Chicago Convention will take.

Yet even within DSA, too often we default to dominant norms of US political culture, reducing political debate to sound-bites and gotcha moments on social media. In the spirit of a more engaged democratic process, this extended episode features a far more in-depth discussion over how DSA can address one of our central challenges: building a powerful and yet accountable socialist electoral project.

Most left podcasts have only interpreted the world, in various ways. The point is to change it!

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My guests:

Amy Wilhelm is co-chair of Seattle DSA, and a trans Marxist born and raised in Seattle. Amy’s background is in tenant organizing, and they’re a member of the Marxist Unity Group, a DSA caucus.

Philip Locker is a long-time socialist organizer and a member of the Seattle Education Association. He helped lead the fight to win the $15 minimum wage in Seattle, the first major city to do so. Philip recently completed a term as Co-chair of Seattle DSA and is a member of the Reform & Revolution caucus.

Alex Pellitteri is a Bread & Roses caucus candidate for NPC. He is from NYC-DSA where he has served as a campaign manager for a DSA-endorsed candidate; he served on the Socialists in Office Committee; and helped start a YDSA chapter.

Sam Heft-Luthy is a former co-chair of DSA San Francisco, the current Secretary of California DSA, and a member of the Red Star caucus. He served on DSA SF's electoral strategy commission in 2021 and was a staff organizer for the chapter's People First San Francisco ballot measure campaign. He grew up in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle.

Seattle DSA
August Chapter Membership Meeting:
2023 National DSA Convention -
Which Way Forward for DSA?

Tuesday, Aug 22, 7pm - 9pm
Southside Commons (with a zoom option)
RSVP

Earlier this month over 900 delegates from across the country gathered in Chicago for the DSA National Convention. Important decisions were made that will set the course for DSA for the next period, from a DSA National Trans and Abortion Rights Campaign to electing a new National Political Committee - the elected national leadership of DSA - to taking steps toward DSA acting like an independent party. However, unfortunately, much was left undiscussed. For example, no discussion or decision was made on DSA's approach to Biden and the 2024 Presidential election.

Join our newly elected NPC member from Seattle, Amy W, and the other Seattle delegates for a discussion assessing the National Convention, its decisions, and what that means for our work here in Seattle and building DSA into a fighting force.

📣RAISE THE WAGE RENTON UPDATE📣

SOME GOOD NEWS

We found a quirk in the submission rules! We’ll get a "10-day" window to submit more signatures if we don’t have enough signatures on this submission. But the signatures submitted in that window will NOT cause us to lose signatures that are older than 180 days
This means we can collect till mid to late September! That’s an extra 2-3 weeks!
Since Aug 1, we’ve gathered at least 1,500+ signatures toward our Aug-Sept target of 2,700 valid signatures, and the majority are from door-knocking which have a much higher validation rate!
We’ve hired TWO NEW paid door-knocking canvassers which could net us an extra 400-500 signatures
We applied for a $10,000 grant from National DSA which would help pay canvassers to collect signatures

HOWEVER….

When we submit the first time, we lose any signatures older than 180 days.
This means we need to overshoot the required 2,226 valid signatures by collecting up to 4,000 signatures
We STILL will undershoot our target at the current pace
So, we REALLY need folks to come help us get across the finish line and get on the ballot!

What should I bring to a canvass?

Now that we’re door knocking more often, make sure to bring water, sunscreen, and snacks!
If you can, bring a friend! One extra canvasser can DOUBLE our impact!

If getting down to Renton is difficult but you still want to help out, we’ll be hosting an event to help count, validate, and cure our signatures so we can get a higher validity rate. Stay tuned for details!

Sign up to help socialists deliver for workers here:
Today, Fri. August 18 (5 PM - 8 PM) RSVP here
This Sat. August 19 (10 AM - 12 PM) RSVP here
This Sun. August 20 (10 AM - 1 PM) RSVP here
This Sun. August 20 (4 - 7 PM) RSVP here

This Saturday, Aug 19
9-10:30 am
Lee Minto Planned Parenthood
2001 E Madison

Help counter the anti-abortion Extremists that regularly stand outside this clinic. Show Solidarity with clinic patients And staff. Join the movement to defend Abortion!

We will use our beautiful political signs, rainbow flags, and chants to protect patients from harassers by the antis and to show the community that the pro-abortion and pro-reproductive-justice movement is here and growing.

Where are we meeting? – We are defending the Lee Minto Planned Parenthood Center at 2001 E. Madison Street, Seattle. Meet at the bus stop outside the clinic.

What should I bring? – Dress for the weather including comfortable shoes, a water bottle, cough drops or hard candy (chanting causes dry mouth), your locked cell phone, emergency contact # written on your body in Sharpie, and your passion for reproductive justice! You can bring a picket sign or some will be provided.

This Clinic Defense is Organized by the Puget Sound Mobilization For Reproductive Justice, a coalition of groups organizing for Reproductive Justice, including the Seattle DSA Reproductive Justice Working Group