Onondaga County and New York City both have elected leaders that started this year who say they are Democratic Socialists. The Syracuse Chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) hails the development. Several D-S-A members shared reactions with WAER’s Chris Bolt.
This past year’s election saw unapologetically socialist candidates Zohran Mamdani win as Mayor of New York City and Hannah Ehrenreich win a Syracuse Common Councilor seat. The term socialist was for a long time used as an insult during a campaign, a way to steer voters away from liberal or progressive candidates. But the 2025 election saw a change in voters’ attitudes. DSA member Geneveive Garcia-Kendrick isn’t surprised given public concerns.
“We are seeing housing prices skyrocket, rent skyrocket. But, our salaries, our income, our benefits, all of that is going away,” Garcia Kendrick told WAER News. “So it really makes sense that, our ideals as DSA, as socialists, are popular, are, we're resonating with the public.”
Garcia-Kendrick is a grant administrator, focused on health policy and immigration policy.
In New York City, the group members expect Mamdani to focus on childcare costs, rent control and worker’s rights. Here in Syracuse, DSA member Tammy Honeywell can see Ehrenreich advocating for tenants’ rights, “being for a good cause eviction, which will help protect people and keep them in their homes.”
She points out tenants haven’t had direct representation on the council, “and that's the thing … in Syracuse, over 60% of our residents are tenants, yet our entire common council are all homeowners.”
Honeywell works as an investigator with the New York State Department of Public Health.
Another member of the local group, Joe Bennett is a teacher in the Syracuse City School District. He said he thinks more people are more open to these views and candidates. And maybe socialism is having a moment.
“I think a lot of people are kind of fed up with kind of just like politics as usual. So I think that's like the main thing too that's a driver of a lot of this is like people are kind of sick of both parties right now,” said Bennett. “So I think they're looking for something new and they're looking for fighters, people who are going to fight for everyday people struggling for these needs.”
The Syracuse DSA members say they plan to stay involved in issues such as lead poisoning, housing, affordability and what they call “public funds for public good.” Socialism on the ballot could get its next test in this November’s local and state elections.
