Election 2020

Back to stories hub

The 2020 Election became a showdown between fascism and liberal democracy. Although a second Trump term was narrowly defeated, Trump's resiliency demands investigation in order to make sure the movement his revived can be defeated at ballot boxes in the future. These articles report on the 2020 Election by navigating the battle-lines that shaped the race.

Did the midterms save democracy?

Pundits took the Democrats' strength in the midterms as a referendum on Republican extremism and support for moderation. But the results really show that voters want more from Democrats, not less.

The Metro DC Socialist Mobilization Model

Shane K and Ryan Mosgrove

One approach for mobilizing the working masses into socialist political operations.

Having a "Cabal" with Oppositional Politics

Building a policy platform based on oppositional politics risks putting the working-class in bed with otherwise hostile interests.

Insurrection at the Capitol: The Counterattack of White Privilege

Trump's regime ended with an insurrection at the Capitol. The attack failed, but revealed the wells of hatred that infect much of the White working-class.

Embrace the Base

Historical precedent shows that Democrats win when they embrace the grassroots demands of their party. If Democrats want to build a winning coalition, they will need to recruit the left to watch their back.

The State of Stealing the Election

Trump’s two-pronged strategy—litigation and political pressure—to remain in the White House is sputtering on all cylinders, but unlikely to succeed.

Action and Reaction: The Newtonian Election

It was a mixed-messages kind of election - Trump was defeated but not fully repudiated. How should we make sense of where we are now?

Hope in the Heart of Empire

Making sense of DC's local political campaigns, which are continuing on in the shadow of what is shaping up to be a tumultuous general election.

Voter Suppression and the State of American Democracy

The danger of authoritarian rule is real. Only broad electoral unity can face down the forces of capital that stand behind Trump's megalomania.

Election 2020: Be Ready for Anything

How might the 2020 election be stolen, and how will the opposition fight back?

Trump Intends to Steal the Election. Here’s How to Stop Him

Donald Trump intends to steal the 2020 election. We can't let that happen.

DSA Isn’t Endorsing Biden. That Doesn’t Mean Members Can’t Work for Him

The DSA is not endorsing Joe Biden. But members should do what they can to assist in his victory.

An Interview with McKayla Wilkes: "Socialism, and Socialists, are Saving us"

An interview with candidate McKayla Wilkes, who is running against House Majority leader Steny Hoyer.

Navigating the Left-wing Rift

With the democratic primary effectively over, how did the left fail to rally decisively behind Bernie?

It Didn’t Take Long: COVID-19 and the Right’s Assault on Democracy

Does the Left’s eagerness to remake the country in the face of the crisis make it the mirror image of the nationalist right?

Bernie Must Win or the Democrats Will Lose

Putting aside my not-insignificant disagreements with the other Democratic candidates, their electability compared to Trump is questionable.

A Gap In the Armor: Time to Take Down Biden

In the coming debates, Bernie must deepen and sustain Biden's diminished public perception. In fact, it should be expanded to emphasize that Biden will not fight for the multi-racial working class.

Polished Pete and the 2020 Race

Pete Buttigieg and Howard Shultz are part of a larger phenomenon in U.S. cultural discourse that privileges a set of experiences and traits that are interpreted as merit, beyond any real policy value that a candidate brings to public debate.

Imagining an MDC DSA Bernie 2020 Campaign: It’s Not Just About Bernie

A Discrete Socialist

The Sanders campaign revived DSA in 2016, and if we are prepared to seize the opportunity, it may again.

Bernie Campaign 2: An Independent Campaign Strategy to Build Our Organization

A Discrete Socialist

At 60,000 members, with infrastructure and serious organizing experience across the country, DSA is in a unique position to step into this political space, and channel this organizing energy behind an explicitly socialist program.

Bernie Campaign 5: Practically and Structurally

A Discrete Socialist

The Sanders campaign presents great risks. DSA refusing to engage with the campaign would result in isolation from the broader progressive community.

Bernie Campaign 4: Building DSA Community and Leadership Development

A Discrete Socialist

We must use the Bernie campaign as another opportunity to build links between chapters and organizers.

Bernie Campaign 3: Bernie, Labor, and DSA

A Discrete Socialist

How can DC-area socialists build connections between the Bernie campaign and the labor movement?

National DSA Endorses Sen. Bernie Sanders' Candidacy

DSA's National Political Committee ratifies the 3-to-1 member vote to endorse Sen. Bernie Sanders's candidacy for president.

WEB Dubois: abolish poverty with intelligent use of the ballot

DSA’s Decision Path If Bernie Announces A Candidacy

A message from the National Director outlines what DSA's response(s) can be and the path currently planned if Sen Sanders announces another run for the presidency.

Social Movement Organizing and Electoral Struggles

Joe Schwartz and Mike Hirsh, in a multipart colloquy, take on the longest-running dynamic in DSA: electoral work vs. movement building.

Single payer popularity poses problems for Democrats

Margaret Flowers

Polls have consistently shown that Democratic Party voters want single payer, but the Party keeps telling them they can't have it.

Notes from the People's Summit

A roundup of the 2017 People's Summit in Chicago.

It's time for us to look at parties differently

Larry Stafford Jr.

A plan for how to use extant political parties to the advantage of progressives.

UBI gains interest as "the end of work" approaches

Interest in a universal basic income (UBI) appears to be rising alongside a widespread sense that we are nearing the end of work. Two examples show what this sort of plan might look like.

Assessing Russia's threat without demonizing it

To avoid the trap of allowing misleading rhetoric to dictate our policies, we need to continue to articulate and organize around an alternative world view.