Welcome to Democratic Socialists of America, San Diego! This page was created for new and prospective members to learn more about our chapter, our current campaigns, and how to get involved. Join us as we build community, working-class power, and create a more equitable and just society for all.
Who We Are
Democratic Socialists of America is a grassroots, multi-tendency, socialist organization committed to the deepening of democracy and freedom in every aspect of our lives. We aim to liberate society from oppression using tactics rooted in a realistic understanding of how to build political power and challenge entrenched structures. With over 75,000 members, DSA is the largest socialist organization in the United States and poised to be a significant force in the resurgence of a popular socialist movement. DSA is not a political party, nor is it a movement that has a narrow, unchanging view of how to achieve our collective political goals. DSA is a collection of organizers building members’ skills and collective political power at the local level, and works as a cohesive body to achieve its goals.
The principal goal of DSA is the complete elimination of capitalist modes of economic organization and all interrelated forms of oppression. Members typically believe that capitalism is inseparable from racism, misogyny, ableism, anti-LGBTQ+ violence, classism, and the myriad of intersecting forms of oppression we experience and witness on a daily basis. Democratic socialists believe our economy and society should exist not to make profits for a few, but to meet human needs and foster true equality.
All of our chapter’s members are volunteers. We are workers, students, and retirees. We are various ages, races, and genders. We have diverse backgrounds, interests, and skills. We engage and contribute our time and labor each as we are able. Some of us are veteran activists while others are just beginning, but we all share a vision of a just and equitable society. Join us as we build power across San Diego (and beyond!) to achieve that vision!
Getting Started...
Get Involved!
- Once you’re a member, join us on slack! Keep an eye on your inbox for an invite.
- Join us at political actions and chapter events. Check out our calendar for all events.
- Build your organizing skills by supporting or leading an effort or group.
Learn More!
- Attend the next DSA-101 presentation (one each month).
- Check out the resources on our site and those provided by the national chapter.
- Read our platform and learn the particulars about our operations.
2025 Campaigns
A campaign is an effort to achieve a very specific goal, and can be created in one of two ways – via a working group or at each year’s Annual Convention, an important chapter-wide meeting held in January. At this meeting, per our bylaws, our membership votes for up to two campaigns to prioritize until the next Annual Convention. This year, our members voted to prioritize the following efforts: Food Sovereignty and Migrant Rights.
Chapter Structure
Each chapter is built a bit differently, with its organization and operation outlined in its bylaws. The main bodies of DSA San Diego include: the Leadership Council (LC), Working Groups (WG), Committees, and Campaigns.
1 The LC consists of elected officers and delegates from each working group. Officers, whose roles are described here in our bylaws, are voted for yearly by the chapter at our Annual Convention. The LC meets more regularly than the entire membership body to complete administrative work for the chapter and vote on pertinent issues that arise between General Assemblies. They are also tasked with promoting the growth of organizing skills within our membership and overseeing endorsed initiatives.
2 A WG is a formal group established by members and ratified by the chapter to organize around specific issues and related campaigns. They can be formed at any point in the year through a process outlined here in our bylaws, and the chairs of a given working group are voted for by that group. Currently, our chapter has three working groups: the Ecosocialist WG (aka EcoSoc), the Labor WG, and the Electoral WG. To learn more about these groups and see how you can get involved in their work, come to their monthly business meetings! Meeting times can be found on our calendar.
3 Committees are groups of members committed to tackling the logistics around certain efforts. A committee may be formed to aid in the success of a campaign, to establish a working group, or to tackle administrative tasks for the chapter. Our operational committees for the chapter include the Internal Organizing Committee, the Communications Committee, and the Education Committee.
4 A Campaign is an effort to achieve a very specific goal, and can be created in one of two ways – via a working group, or at each year’s Annual Convention.