What is California DSA?

California DSA is a statewide organization of the Democratic Socialists of America, focused on bringing together members in California to promote economic and social justice.

Our organization is made up of a State Council, which includes delegates from DSA chapters in California, with each chapter having a set number of elected delegates. Founded in February 2022, the State Council meets four times a year, while a seven-member State Committee meets regularly in between. CA DSA aims to ensure democratic management of the Political Action Committee and state resources, facilitating coordination among chapters.

Returning to California? Are you new to DSA or curious about it? Then join us for our CA DSA 101!

Here we'll talk about capitalism and why democratic socialism is opposed to it with important context about California politics and some labor history. We'll also talk about DSA and California DSA and how we can organize for a better future. This isn't a lecture, but a meeting for new and veteran organizers alike to learn why we do this work and how we can put it into action. 

Learn about DSA and democratic socialism!

What is Democratic Socialism?

Capitalism is a system designed by the owning class to exploit the rest of us for their own profit. We must replace it with democratic socialism, a system where ordinary people have a real voice in our workplaces, neighborhoods, and society.

We believe there are many avenues that feed into the democratic road to socialism. Our vision pushes further than historic social democracy and leaves authoritarian visions of socialism behind in the dustbin of history.

We want a democracy that creates space for us all to flourish (not just survive) and answers the fundamental questions of our lives with the input of all. We want to collectively own the key economic drivers that dominate our lives, such as energy production and transportation. We want the multiracial working class united in solidarity instead of divided by fear. We want to win “radical” reforms like single-payer Medicare for All, defunding the police/refunding communities, the Green New Deal, and more as a transition to a freer, more just life.

We want a democracy powered by everyday people. The capitalist class tells us we are powerless, but together we can take back control. Join us to further the cause of democratic socialism in your town and across the nation.

Our Bylaws

The California DSA Bylaws were collectively drafted by an Exploratory Committee made up of representatives from all DSA chapters in the state. They were ratified by a majority of California DSA chapters on March 21st, 2021, and approved by the National Political Committee on December 7th, 2021.

Read our organization’s bylaws here

Resolutions & Policies

As a democratic organization, our delegates and State Committee hold votes to ratify proposals brought forward by our membership.

Read our resolutions and policies here