Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2026 - Christian Celeste Tate, New York State Assembly District 54

After the election of mayor Zohran Mamdani in 2025, the Democratic Socialists of America are flexing their muscle in races all over New York City, putting forward 10 candidates at the federal and state levels. One of these candidates is Christian Celeste Tate (he/him), a biracial millennial consultant who works with nonprofits to fight poverty, reduce inequality, and bring about social change. Christian’s platform calls for abolishing ICE, fighting predatory real estate investors, taxing the rich, and using grassroots organizing and electoral campaigning to build a socialist movement across the city.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2026 - Evan Smith, Maryland House of Delegates District 28

Evan Smith (he/him) is a Gen Z democratic socialist candidate running from southern Maryland running for Delegate. He is the communications director of the Young Democrats of Southern Maryland. A former D2 track athlete, Evan is primarily focusing on public transit and the affordability crisis in his campaign. Should he be elected, he will be the youngest delegate and the only one born in the 21st Century.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2026 - Lilliana Young, Indiana House of Representatives District 61

Lilliana Young (she/her) is a millennial trans woman who identifies as a Democratic Socialist. Describing herself as “extremely gay”, she does not shy away from the LGBTQ+ label, in a state that is generally not friendly to the LGBTQ+ community. But that is not deterring her. As a member of the Bloomington/Monroe County Human Rights Commission (BMCHRC), Lilliana is invested in expanding socialist policies in Indiana, from public housing options, to expanding and strengthening state Medicaid, and she has also had success strengthening local protections for LGBTQ+ persons in her hometown of Bloomington. A bass guitarist, she has technical experience as a writer and script editor, trailer editor, music producer, marketing lead and community manager in indie game development. Lilliana is basing her campaign around six main issues: wage and worker’s rights, access to housing, access to health care, strengthening public education, accountability of government and human rights.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2026 - Oliver Larkin, Florida's 23rd Congressional District

When most people think of Florida, they do not think of a progressive political landscape. But Oliver Larkin (he/him/his) is trying to change this. A Democratic Socialist, Oliver has many years of experience in progressive political organizing and advocacy and wants to bring change to his home in South Florida (he grew up in Fort Lauderdale) which is Ground Zero for the MAGA movement. When he and his wife Sandra moved back to South Florida in 2022, they discovered astronomical rental rates as they bounced around Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and Deerfield Beach, looking for affordable housing. Oliver is centering his campaign around Medicare for All, a $25 minimum wage, and universal child care.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - JP Lyninger, Louisville, KY Metro Council District 6

In the upcoming May 21 primary in the Metro Council District 6 race in Louisville, KY, Jejune is profiling JP Lyninger (he/him/his). JP is running as a Democratic Socialist for the seat, after several years organizing with the Democratic Socialists of America at both the local and national levels. In 2022 he managed fellow Democratic Socialist Robert Levertis Bell’s run for State Representative and co-managed Kentucky Access for All’s campaign to defeat a state constitutional ban on abortion, contacting every voter in the state regardless of voter ID to explain that abortion bans harm the working class regardless of whether they identify as Democrats or Republicans. This year, JP has personally knocked on over 6000 doors for his campaign, and has made it his goal to talk to every voter in District 6 by election day.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Rachel Ventura, Illinois Senate District 43

This week we kick off the 2024 election season with Rachel Ventura (she/her), who is a Democratic Socialist state senator from Illinois’ 43rd district, the part of the state in and around the city of Joliet. This single mother of twin daughters has degrees in Mathematics and Biology and has worked as an actuary and naturalist before joining a gaming company, Legendary Games. Rachel is passionate about taxing the rich, universal healthcare, campaign finance reform, and investing in the middle class.