What is California DSA?
California DSA is a statewide formation of the Democratic Socialists of America, committed to uniting members across California in fights for economic and social justice that go beyond our local chapters.
The California DSA State Council is a proportional representation body comprising delegates from California-based DSA chapters. Every chapter in the state has been allocated a number of delegates who must be elected by general membership. Founded in February 2022, CA DSA State Council meets four times a year, with an elected State Committee of nine Council members meeting regularly between Council meetings. CA DSA exists to ensure democratic governance of the California DSA Political Action Committee and statewide resources. Its decisions are meant to encourage coordination of chapter work.
What is Democratic Socialism?
Capitalism is a system designed by the owning class to exploit the rest of us for their own profit. We must replace it with democratic socialism, a system where ordinary people have a real voice in our workplaces, neighborhoods, and society.
We believe there are many avenues that feed into the democratic road to socialism. Our vision pushes further than historic social democracy and leaves authoritarian visions of socialism behind in the dustbin of history.
We want a democracy that creates space for us all to flourish (not just survive) and answers the fundamental questions of our lives with the input of all. We want to collectively own the key economic drivers that dominate our lives, such as energy production and transportation. We want the multiracial working class united in solidarity instead of divided by fear. We want to win “radical” reforms like single-payer Medicare for All, defunding the police/refunding communities, the Green New Deal, and more as a transition to a freer, more just life.
We want a democracy powered by everyday people. The capitalist class tells us we are powerless, but together we can take back control. Join DSA to further the cause of democratic socialism in your town and across the nation.
Committees
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The mission of the California DSA Labor Committee is to support and coordinate local DSA chapter labor work via communication, campaigns, education, training and organizing. As the Labor Committee grows and solidifies, it will develop working groups to engage in various activities meant to build rank and file power within the California labor movement.
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The electoral committee of California DSA is responsible for:
Evaluation of candidates and ballot measures that advance the interest of the working-class which are recommended to our state council for endorsement
Running endorsed campaigns that build class-consciousness, root our members in the multiracial working-class, strengthen our organization, and have winnable and transformative objectives
Coordinating with our National Electoral Committee to realize the goals of our organization and enact DSA’s national electoral strategy in California
Communication and coordination with elected officials in California that are DSA members and share our priorities
Working Groups
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Ecosocialist organizers across DSA chapters in California are meeting to coordinate their efforts and support one another on projects and campaigns related to the Green New Deal and climate & environmental justice. Every DSA member who lives in California is welcome to join us.
We discuss challenges, goals and opportunities for collaboration in our local efforts. We also seek to coordinate that local work with the Building for Power Campaign of the National DSA Green New Deal Commission. Our goal is to amplify and build multi-racial working class power for ecosocialism.
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The mission of the Communications Working Group is to enable the work of the local chapters and state committees to become visible and inspirational to all California DSA members. The Working Group will create a robust spectrum of internal and external communications channels, beginning with basic information about the organization, over time comprising regular, accessible news functions in print and electronic media.
Our Bylaws
The California DSA Bylaws were collectively drafted by an Exploratory Committee made up of representatives from all DSA chapters in the state. They were ratified by a majority of California DSA chapters on March 21st, 2021, and approved by the National Political Committee on December 7th, 2021.
Read our organization’s bylaws here
Resolutions & Policies
As a democratic organization, our delegates and State Committee hold votes to ratify proposals brought forward by our membership.