When we fight for the working class, we win

A Statement from the CA DSA State Committee about the 2024 election

Donald Trump, Republicans, and their billionaire backers have won the presidency and control of Congress along with it. Though we woke up Wednesday morning to this terrible news, these results were not decided overnight.

Trump and Republicans across the country have run disgusting campaigns marked by fascism, racism, misogyny, and placing the blame for our suffering on immigrants, trans people, and workers.

In turn, the Democratic establishment thought it wise to pivot to the right, chasing an imaginary constituent at the expense of people’s lives and livelihoods.

In California, our statewide election results were also not what we’d hope for or worked towards. Our statewide organization endorsed and campaigned for Prop 5, which would make building public infrastructure and housing easier, and Prop 33, which would have removed California’s strict limits on rent control. 

Just like in our federal elections, billionaires, landlords, and developers spent hundreds of millions of dollars across the state to lie to voters about these measures, and both failed. Though this is the case, as democratic socialists, we are more committed than ever to continue fighting for justice for tenants and workers. 

Amid all this news, it is understandable to be overwhelmed. But, as Dr. King reminds us, “Revolution, though born of despair, cannot long be sustained by despair.” In these moments, for the sake of our communities and our planet, we are called to keep hope alive, and work like hell to turn things around. And there is reason to be hopeful.

Across California, where our members came together, organized, and knocked on doors, working class champions won. We took on moneyed interests and won seats on city councils, school boards, and other offices. That work matters and will make a material impact on many lives.

We have to keep methodically organizing in our cities and towns toward larger and larger victories. We must also act immediately upon Trump’s return to the White House to protect our community members he has demonized and put at risk. Every life we save will be worth it.

It is our responsibility to move forward thoughtfully and with nothing less than solidarity.

California DSA will soon be hosting an introductory lesson to democratic socialism and how it is the solution to our current crisis. It will be open to anyone who is interested in or new to our organization. We’ll also be announcing plans for our statewide organization moving forward. Stay tuned.

We can and must push forward; our futures depend on it.