The Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America (MDC DSA or Metro DC DSA) is the Washington metropolitan area chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). MDC DSA organizes in Washington, D.C., southern Maryland, and Northern Virginia. MDC is the 3rd-largest DSA chapter, below DSA-LA and above Portland DSA.
MDC DSA has been active in local electoral campaigns, tenant organizing, labor solidarity efforts, and protest mobilizations.
Notable MDC DSA members include Janeese Lewis George, Zachary Parker, and Oye Owolewa.
In 1982, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) formed as a merger of the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee and the New American Movement. DSA had two Washington area chapters: A larger DC/MD chapter and a smaller Northern Virginia (NOVA) chapter, divided by the Potomac River.
Many DSA and DC/MD DSA members participated in the April 17-19, 1986 founding convention of the National Rainbow Coalition, held at the Washington Convention Center. IAM President and DSA National Vice-Chair William Winpisinger wrote the introduction Jackson's keynote speech. The DC/MD chapter hosted the 1987 DSA National Convention in the First Congregational United Church of Christ, where members voted to endorse Jesse Jackson for president. Jackson, hoping to win over moderates, requested DSA un-endorse him. The 1993 DSA National Convention endorsed the statehood for DC.
In 2009, the NOVA and DC/MD chapters merged into one chapter, Metro DC DSA, with branches in NOVA, DC, and several MD towns.
In 2016, MDC DSA grew dramatically, alongside national DSA, after Bernie Sanders' first presidential campaign and the election of Donald Trump.
Metro DC DSA has participated in local elections through canvassing and ballot campaigns.
Metro DC DSA backed Janeese Lewis George in the 2020 Ward 4 Democratic primary. She defeated incumbent Brandon Todd in the primary, 10,965 votes to 8,624 votes.
A wider progressive slate in 2020 included MDC DSA endorsements in city races such as Ed Lazere's at-large campaign.
In 2021, MDC DSA did not endorse Oye Owolewa, a MDC DSA member, in his run for District of Columbia shadow representative, in order to focus on other races. Owolewa had won the 2020 Shadow Representative election Democratic primary with 74,101 votes (95.8%) and the general with 240,533 votes (81.60%). In 2022, Owolewa won the primary with 54,317 votes (51.6%) and general with 140,502 votes (83.5%). In 2024, Owolewa won the primary with 46,582 votes (57.7%) and general with 267,661 votes (90.75%). In 2026, Owolwewa declined to run in order to join the 2026 Council of the District of Columbia election.
In 2022, MDC DSA endorsed Zachary Parker in the Ward 5 race. Parker won the general election with 25,554 votes.
In 2022, Metro DC DSA endorsed Brandy Brooks for an at-large seat on the Montgomery County Council. After a campagin staffer accused Brooks of sexual harassment, the Brooks campaign ended and MDC DSA rescinded its endorsement.
The endorsement dispute became part of broader tensions in Montgomery County's progressive coalition during the 2022 at-large race.
The chapter organized for Initiative 82, a District ballot measure to phase out the tipped minimum wage. District voters approved the initiative in the 2022 general election.
MDC DSA's labor activity has included solidarity actions with labor union campaigns in the Washington region. In 2022, MDC DSA organized a solidarity rally for Starbucks Workers United in Arlington during a national strike day.
Metro DC DSA's tenant campaign is called Stomp Out Slumlords (SOS). The campaign has organized in apartment complexes including Southern Towers and Marbury Plaza. During the COVID-19 pandemic, SOS organized tenants to attempt rent-strike mobilizations for rent cancellation, emergency assistance, and a temporary rent freeze. In 2021, SOS and other housing activists protested outside the home of White House domestic policy adviser Susan Rice to demand a federal eviction-moratorium extension. SOS supported the District's temporary 2022 rent-freeze legislation. In 2025, SOS participated in anti-displacement protests linked to redevelopment plans at the Bradley Lane site and debates over changes to D.C.'s housing policy agenda.
Metro DC DSA supported the We Power DC's utility-affordability advocacy, which supports public ownership of DC's electric utility distribution system. We Power DC has opposed repeated Pepco rate increases and supported Office of the People's Counsel litigation challenging the Public Service Commission's multiyear rate-plan approvals.
In 2018, MDC DSA members confronted Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen at a Washington restaurant during protests over family-separation immigration policy. Other diners applauded them.
In April 2025, MDC DSA members participated in downtown street blockages organized with other groups to mark the first 100 days of Donald Trump's second administration. MDC DSA also joined the Free DC marches to oppose Trump's deployment of the National Guard to DC.