Candidate Endorsement Process for the Memphis-Midsouth Democratic Socialists of America
This document outlines the candidate endorsement protocol for the Memphis-Midsouth chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. This language was approved after a vote of the chapter membership was taken at the General Meeting held on the night of January 13, 2026.
What Our Endorsement Means For Your Campaign
For the Memphis-Midsouth Democratic Socialists of America (MMDSA), our power is not in capital, but in people. Our theory of change for the Memphis-Midsouth community is based on strategically organizing around a credible plan to win meaningful power for the working class and the cause of democratic socialism. Our endorsements are contingent on this theory of change, and our support will solely go to those candidates who center the cause of the working class in their struggle against capitalism. Building economic justice, ending the carceral state, advancing gender and racial equality, protecting the undocumented migrant community, supporting organized labor to the hilt – all of these policies, and more, are core objectives that MMDSA is pursuing, and our endorsed candidates must be committed to furthering these causes loudly and persistently in the halls of power.
Because we seek to foster with our candidates a deeper understanding and a co-governing relationship through our shared struggle against capitalism, our endorsement will always mean more than just a logomark on a social media account or campaign flyer. It will mean a complete chapter mobilization through canvassing, phone banking, communications, social media, and fundraising, engaging a broad section of our chapter’s members due to our core commitments to democratic organizing and grassroots volunteer work. The MMDSA will provide critical campaign support with shoe leather and top-level strategizing, and once the campaign is won, our work will continue. The MMDSA will not abandon our elected representatives to fend for themselves amongst hostile coalitions and corrupt bureaucrats – we will continue to provide critical support and staffing to elected representatives to ensure that the struggle continues in the halls of power as the work of the people, not just one person.
Endorsement Requirements
- Must be an MMDSA member in good standing for not less than six (6) months, actively attending at least one committee’s meetings and activities, and provide not less than three (3) written recommendations from fellow MMDSA members in good standing attesting to their leadership and reliability in the organizing activities of the chapter – one of which must be a Co-Steward of the committee they are active in.
- Extraordinary Qualification – If a candidate does not qualify on the grounds of membership or organizing activity within the chapter, they may apply only if they have a longstanding record as a leader in organizing work with our allies or in past work with MMDSA. In this instance, the candidate must obtain three (3) written recommendations from surrogates within MMDSA who are members in good standing – one of which must be a member of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee must then vote with a 70% supermajority in favor of approving the candidate’s extraordinary qualified status before consideration of their Candidate Endorsement Questionnaire – and the start of their endorsement process – may begin.
- Must pledge not to accept campaign finance funds from certain PACs or lobbying groups designated by the MMDSA Executive Committee on advice from the Electoral and Policy Committee – small donor donations will be strongly preferred.
- Must commit to uphold and aggressively pursue MMDSA’s policies, interests, and priorities.
- Must use their campaign as an opportunity to promote MMDSA, including but not limited to expressly driving recruitment to MMDSA, developing leaders within MMDSA by providing campaign experience, and using MMDSA’s logo, color scheme, and messaging in campaign materials.
- Must commit to caucusing with fellow elected DSA endorsees and socialist-in-office committees, where applicable.
- Must identify as a socialist or as a democratic socialist in private and public statements and commit to uphold and defend all official policy positions endorsed and agreed to by MMDSA in its bylaws and governing documents, including the full freedoms and self determination of the Palestinian people including the end of Israel’s colonization and occupation of all Arab lands, equality, and the right of all refugees to return to their homes and properties.
- Must commit to a class struggle electoral campaign and tenure in office, placing their work as a socialist organizer first and as a legislator second.
Endorsement Process
- Candidates must fill out the MMDSA Candidate Questionnaire
- Within a recommended two (2) week period of submitting the MMDSA Candidate Questionnaire, the candidate will then attend an in-person Candidate Meeting with the Electoral Coordinator, the Co-Steward of the Electoral & Policy Committee, and at least one (1) Chapter Co-Chair.
- Within a recommended forty-eight (48) hour period after the Candidate Meeting concludes, the MMDSA officers who interviewed the candidate will give a report on the content and character of the Candidate Meeting to the Executive Committee, a summary analysis of the candidate’s responses to the MMDSA Candidate Questionnaire and an overall recommendation on whether or not MMDSA should endorse the candidate.
- Within a recommended seven (7) day period following this report, the Executive Committee must then vote on a recommendation for or against endorsing the candidate.
- Within a recommended twenty-four (24) hour period following this vote, the Electoral Coordinator will report to the chapter about the content and character of the Candidate Meeting, a summary analysis of the candidate’s responses to the MMDSA Candidate Questionnaire, and the Executive Committee’s recommendation for or against endorsing the candidate.
- If a candidate is recommended for endorsement by the Executive Committee, the candidate must attend either the next MMDSA General Meeting or attend an extraordinary chapter-wide meeting as outlined in the by-laws – whichever is more expedient – where they will address the audience as well as answer questions.
- If a candidate is not recommended for endorsement by the Executive Committee, the candidate may introduce a resolution at the next General Meeting for their endorsement to be considered by the membership at large. The candidate may attend the General Meeting at which the second and final reading of the resolution occurs and address the audience, as well as answer questions, as part of the deliberative process prior to the chapter’s vote on the resolution.
- Within a recommended seven (7) day period after such a General Meeting or extraordinary meeting, whether a candidate was recommended by the Executive Committee or sought their endorsement via direct resolution, MMDSA will conduct an electronic vote to decide on whether or not to endorse the candidate. Certifying an endorsement will require an affirmative vote from a 70% supermajority of MMDSA members in good standing.
- Candidates who attempt to circumvent the above steps by attempting to have an endorsement considered by the membership at large by introducing a resolution at a MMDSA General Meeting, on their own or through a surrogate, without completing the MMDSA Candidate Questionnaire or the Candidate Meeting, or by pre-empting the Executive Committee’s vote on whether or not to recommend endorsing the candidate, will result in the candidate being both disqualified from being endorsed by MMDSA and barred from applying for an endorsement for a period of not less than one thousand four hundred sixty-one (1461) days from the date of the resolution’s proposal. Members who act as a surrogate in an attempt to help a candidate circumvent this process will be subject to censure or possible expulsion from MMDSA.
Read more at Memphis-Midsouth
DSA Stands against Imperialist War and with the Iranian People
UPDATE: Take action now!
- Tell your Congressional representatives to vote YES on the War Powers Resolution and NO on war with Iran!
- Join us Wednesday 3/4 at 9pm ET/8pm CT for our No War with Iran Mass Call!
- Attend a rally this weekend with our partners at the ANSWER Coalition, the National Iranian American Council, Black Alliance for Peace, CodePink, and more.
DSA Stands against Imperialist War and with the Iranian People
Early this morning, the US and Israel struck Iran as people in the region woke up to siren calls and explosions. One of their targets was an all-girls elementary school that has killed at least 40 people. This brutal act of imperialist war is an unjustifiable assault on the Iranian people. The unprovoked US-Israeli aggression against Iran is not merely war against a state or “regime,” a favorite word in the imperialist vocabulary. It is an attack on an entire people and region of the world. The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) unequivocally condemns the attacks on Iran and violations of its sovereignty. From Cuba and Venezuela to Iraq and Iran, we categorically oppose regime change and foreign intervention. National sovereignty is a precondition for working-class liberation, not sanctions and bombs.
The US-Israeli attacks are a continuation of the hybrid war that has been waged against Iran since its popular revolution in 1979. From the Clinton administration’s imposition of the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act in 1996 to the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and waging of the Twelve-Day War, the United States has destroyed the Iranian economy, empowered a class of domestic sanctions profiteers, and caused the Iranian working class to suffer. Thus, in no way can the United States claim to be a friend of the Iranian people when it is a producer of the conditions that cause them to protest.
DSA mourns the lives lost in the US-Israeli attacks and demands a cessation of hostilities against Iran, a withdrawal of military assets from the Persian Gulf and the region, an end to unilateral coercive measures against Iran, and a return to diplomacy on the part of the United States. We call on the American people to organize and participate in mass mobilizations against the attacks on Iran, contact their representatives in Congress and demand that they vote for the Iran War Powers Resolution, and join DSA and its International Committee as we continue to struggle against American imperialism in West Asia and beyond. A popular solidarity movement across the country can shift the political terrain and exact a political cost on warmongers.
No to imperialist war, yes to the sovereignty of the Iranian people!
Persian Translation:
دموکراتیک سوسیالیستهای آمریکا در برابر جنگ امپریالیستی ایستاده و در کنار مردم ایران هستند
بامداد امروز، ایالات متحده و اسرائیل به ایران حمله کردند، در حالی که مردم منطقه با صدای آژیر و انفجار از خواب بیدار میشدند. یکی از اهداف آنها یک مدرسه ابتدایی دخترانه بود که دستکم ۴۰ نفر را به کام مرگ کشاند. این جنایتی وحشیانه در چارچوب جنگ امپریالیستی و تعرضی غیرقابلتوجیه علیه مردم ایران است. تجاوز بیدلیل و تحریکنشده آمریکا و اسرائیل علیه ایران صرفا جنگی علیه یک دولت یا “رژیم،” واژهای محبوب در ادبیات امپریالیستی، نیست؛ بلکه حملهای است علیه یک ملت و کل منطقهای از جهان. دموکراتیک سوسیالیستهای آمریکا این حملات و نقض حاکمیت ایران را قاطعانه محکوم میکنند. از کوبا و ونزوئلا تا عراق و ایران، ما قاطعانه با تغییر رژیم و هرگونه مداخله خارجی مخالفیم. حاکمیت ملی پیششرط رهایی طبقه کارگر است، نه تحریم و بمباران.
حملات آمریکا و اسرائیل ادامه همان جنگ هیبریدی است که از زمان انقلاب مردمی ۱۳۵۷ (۱۹۷۹) علیه ایران در جریان بوده است. از تحمیل قانون تحریمهای ایران و لیبی در دوره دولت کلینتون در سال ۱۳۷۵ (۱۹۹۶) تا خروج دولت ترامپ از توافق هستهای ایران در سال ۱۳۹۷ (۲۰۱۸) و پیشبرد جنگ دوازدهروزه، ایالات متحده اقتصاد ایران را تخریب کرده، طبقهای از سودبران داخلی تحریمها را تقویت نموده، و موجب رنج و فشار بر طبقه کارگر ایران شده است. ازاینرو، ایالات متحده بههیچوجه نمیتواند خود را دوست مردم ایران بنامد، در حالی که خود پدیدآورنده همان شرایطی است که آنان را به اعتراض وامیدارد.
دموکراتیک سوسیالیستهای آمریکا سوگوار جانباختگان حملات آمریکا و اسرائیل هستند و خواستار توقف فوری خصومتها علیه ایران، خروج نیروها و تجهیزات نظامی از خلیج فارس و منطقه، پایاندادن به اقدامات قهری یکجانبه علیه ایران، و بازگشت ایالات متحده به مسیر دیپلماسی هستند. ما از مردم آمریکا میخواهیم در اعتراضات و خیزشهای گسترده مردمی علیه حملات به ایران سازماندهی کرده و شرکت کنند، با نمایندگان خود در کنگره تماس بگیرند و از آنان بخواهند به قطعنامه اختیارات جنگی ایران رای دهند، و به دموکراتیک سوسیالیستهای آمریکا و کمیته بینالمللی آن بپیوندند، در حالی که ما به مبارزه با امپریالیسم آمریکا در غرب آسیا و فراتر از آن ادامه خواهیم داد. یک جنبش همبستگی مردمی در سراسر کشور میتواند موازنه سیاسی را تغییر دهد و برای جنگطلبان هزینه سیاسی تحمیل کند.
نه به جنگ امپریالیستی، آری به حاکمیت مردم ایران!
Arabic Translation
الاشتراكيون الديمقراطيون في أمريكا يقفون ضد الحرب الإمبريالية ويتضامنون مع الشعب الإيراني
في صباح اليوم، شنّت الولايات المتحدة وإسرائيل ضرباتٍ على إيران واستيقظ أهل المنطقة على أصوات صفارات الإنذار والانفجارات. وكان من بين أهدافها مدرسةٌ ابتدائية للبنات، ما أسفر عن مقتل ما لا يقل عن ٤٠ شخصًا. الطبقة الحاكمة الأمريكية عدوٌ للشعب الإيراني. العدوان الأمريكي-الإسرائيلي غير المبرر ضد إيران ليس مجرد عدوان ضد دولة إيران أو “النظام” (وهي إحدى مفردات الإمبريالية المفضلة) بل هو عدوان ضد الشعب والمنطقة بأكملها. حزب الاشتراكيين الديمقراطيين في أمريكا يدين الهجمات على إيران وأي عدوان يمسّ سيادتها. من كوبا وفنزويلا إلى العراق وإيران، نقف ضد تغيير الأنظمة والتدخل العسكري والسياسي والاقتصادي في أي دولة حول العالم. السيادة الوطنية أحدُ شروطِ تحرير الطبقة العاملة والحرية لا تنال بالعقوبات والصواريخ.
الهجمات الأمريكية-الإسرائيلية اليوم تُعد استمراراً للحرب الهجينة التي شُنّت ضد إيران منذ ثورتها الشعبية في عام ١٩٧٩. من فرض إدارة كلينتون قانون العقوبات على إيران وليبيا في عام ١٩٩٦ إلى انسحاب إدارة ترامب من الاتفاق النووي مع إيران في عام ٢٠١٥ وشنّها ما سُمّي بحرب الاثني عشر يوماً، دمّرت الولايات المتحدة الاقتصاد الإيراني، ومكّنت طبقة المستفيدين من العقوبات، وتسببت في معاناة الطبقة الكادحة الإيرانية. لا يمكن للولايات المتحدة، بأي صيغة، أن تدّعي أنها صديقة للشعب الإيراني في حين أنها هي التي نسقت الظروف التي دفعت الشعب إلى الاحتجاج.
حزب الاشتراكيين الديمقراطيين في أمريكا يعزّي الأرواح التي فقدت في الهجمات الأمريكية-الإسرائيلية ويطالب بوقف العدوان ضد إيران، وانسحاب الأسطول العسكري من الخليج الفارسي والمنطقة، وإنهاء التدابير القسرية ضد إيران، والعودة إلى المسار الدبلوماسي من جانب الولايات المتحدة. ندعو الشعب الأمريكي إلى التنظيم والمشاركة في المظاهرات الجماهيرية ضد الهجمات على إيران، وحثّ نوابه في الكونغرس على التصويت لصالح قرار صلاحيات الحرب الإيراني، والانضمام إلى منظمة الاشتراكيين الديمقراطيين في أمريكا ولجنتها الدولية بينما نواصل النضال ضد الإمبريالية الأمريكية في غرب آسيا وخارجها. حركة تضامنية شعبية واسعة في جميع أنحاء البلاد تستطيع تغيّير المشهد السياسي وتفرض ثمنًا سياسيًا باهضاً على تجّار الحرب.
لا للحرب الإمبريالية، من أجل سيادة الشعب الإيراني!
Spanish Translation
DSA se opone a la guerra imperialista y apoya al pueblo iraníS
Esta madrugada, Estados Unidos e Israel han atacado Irán mientras la población de la región se despertaba con el sonido de las sirenas y las explosiones. Uno de sus blancos fue una escuela primaria para niñas, en la que han muerto al menos 40 personas. Este brutal acto de guerra imperialista es un ataque injustificable contra el pueblo iraní. La agresión injustificada de Estados Unidos e Israel contra Irán no es simplemente una guerra contra un Estado o un «régimen», palabra favorita en el vocabulario imperialista. Es un ataque contra todo un pueblo y toda una región del mundo. Los Socialistas Democráticos de América (DSA) condenan inequívocamente los ataques contra Irán y las violaciones de su soberanía. Desde Cuba y Venezuela hasta Irak e Irán, nos oponemos categóricamente al cambio de régimen y a la intervención extranjera. La soberanía nacional es una condición previa para la liberación de la clase trabajadora, no las sanciones y las bombas.
Los ataques de Estados Unidos e Israel son una continuación de la guerra híbrida que se ha librado contra Irán desde su revolución popular en 1979. Desde la imposición de la Ley de Sanciones a Irán y Libia por parte de la administración Clinton en 1996 hasta la retirada de la administración Trump del acuerdo nuclear con Irán en 2018 y el inicio de la Guerra de los Doce Días, Estados Unidos ha destruido la economía iraní, ha empoderado a una clase de especuladores nacionales con las sanciones y ha causado el sufrimiento de la clase trabajadora iraní. Por lo tanto, Estados Unidos no puede en modo alguno afirmar que es amigo del pueblo iraní cuando es el responsable de las condiciones que le llevan a protestar.
DSA lamenta las vidas perdidas en los ataques estadounidense-israelíes y exige el cese de las hostilidades contra Irán, la retirada de los activos militares del Golfo Pérsico y la región, el fin de las medidas coercitivas unilaterales contra Irán y el retorno a la diplomacia por parte de Estados Unidos. Hacemos un llamamiento al pueblo estadounidense para que se organice y participe en movilizaciones masivas contra los ataques a Irán, se ponga en contacto con sus representantes en el Congreso y les exija que voten a favor de la Resolución sobre los poderes bélicos contra Irán, y se una a DSA y a su Comité Internacional mientras seguimos luchando contra el imperialismo estadounidense en Asia Occidental y más allá. Un movimiento de solidaridad popular en todo el país puede cambiar el terreno político y exigir un coste político a los belicistas.
¡No a la guerra imperialista, sí a la soberanía del pueblo iraní!
Portuguese Translation
DSA se posiciona contra a guerra imperialista e apoia o povo iraniano
No início desta manhã, os EUA e Israel atacaram o Irã enquanto as pessoas na região acordavam com o som de sirenes e explosões. Um de seus alvos foi uma escola primária para meninas, o que resultou na morte de pelo menos 40 pessoas. Esse ato brutal de guerra imperialista é um ataque injustificável contra o povo iraniano. A agressão não provocada dos EUA e de Israel contra o Irã não é meramente uma guerra contra um Estado ou “regime”, palavra favorita no vocabulário imperialista. É um ataque contra todo um povo e contra uma região inteira do mundo. Os Socialistas Democráticos da América (DSA) condenam de forma inequívoca os ataques ao Irã e as violações de sua soberania. De Cuba e Venezuela ao Iraque e ao Irã, nos opomos categoricamente à mudança de regime e à intervenção estrangeira. A soberania nacional é uma condição prévia para a libertação da classe trabalhadora, não sanções e bombas.
Os ataques dos EUA e de Israel são a continuação da guerra híbrida travada contra o Irã desde sua revolução popular em 1979. Desde a imposição, pelo governo Clinton, da Lei de Sanções ao Irã e à Líbia em 1996, passando pela retirada do governo Trump do acordo nuclear com o Irã em 2018 e pela condução da Guerra dos Doze Dias, os Estados Unidos destruíram a economia iraniana, fortaleceram uma classe interna que lucra com as sanções e fizeram a classe trabalhadora iraniana sofrer. Assim, de forma alguma os Estados Unidos podem afirmar ser amigos do povo iraniano quando são produtores das condições que levam esse povo a protestar.
DSA lamenta as vidas perdidas nos ataques dos EUA e de Israel e exige a cessação das hostilidades contra o Irã, a retirada de recursos e efetivos militares do Golfo Pérsico e da região, o fim das medidas coercitivas unilaterais contra o Irã e o retorno à diplomacia por parte dos Estados Unidos. Convocamos o povo americano a se organizar e participar de mobilizações de massa contra os ataques ao Irã, a contatar seus representantes no Congresso e exigir que votem a favor da Resolução de Poderes de Guerra sobre o Irã, e a se juntar ao DSA e ao seu Comitê Internacional na continuidade da luta contra o imperialismo norte-americano na Ásia Ocidental e além. Um movimento popular de solidariedade em todo o país pode alterar o terreno político e impor um custo político aos defensores da guerra.
Não à guerra imperialista, sim à soberania do povo iraniano!
The post DSA Stands against Imperialist War and with the Iranian People appeared first on Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
Monthly Round-Up – February 2026
This article is written by a DSA member and does not formally represent the views of MADSA as a whole or its subgroups.
Welcome to Vol. 7 of the monthly round-up! The content in this publication overlaps significantly with our DSA newsletter and monthly General Membership Meetings. To sign up for the newsletter or check out an upcoming General Membership Meeting, visit: https://madison-dsa.org/events/
ICE Out Hub / Strike Out ICE!
MADSA has launched a centralized resource for community defense and related organizing in Madison. Members in the February GMM debriefed about MADSA’s ICE-related efforts so far, and approved a proposal for Strike Out ICE!
MADSA’s goals are to support other groups already doing this work – especially Voces de la Frontera – while also developing networks of mutual aid, supporting MADSA members in becoming active organizers, and building towards a national general strike on May 1st. What is most exciting to this author is that the strike plan is a movement backed by real strategy and community ties, not just a random internet call to action. The chapter is working on political education, building community bonds, spreading the word among coworkers and friends, and coordinating with other organizations, including unions. The strike could be a historic step in taking back the people’s power across the nation and in turning the tides of politics in the United States, if people embrace the spirit of making real, concrete demands, and shutting down the economy to ensure they are met.
You can check out the hub here: https://madison-dsa.org/ice-out-hub/ The hub also contains weekly strike reports, and members will receive these reports in their email inboxes as a newsletter.
I encourage all members to take action today, whether that’s joining a neighborhood group chat, attending an educational meeting about strike history or organizing skills, being trained as a legal observer, or talking to people in your life about the strike. And remember – millions of people participating imperfectly will always outweigh a few dozen participating perfectly. Embrace uncertainty and imperfection as a normal part of your political process!
MADSA Endorses Heidi Wegleitner for Re-Election
Members voted in the February meeting to endorse Heidi’s re-election campaign for Dane County Board. Heidi has served as a delegate to the South Central Federation of Labor, is in a leadership role with the United Legal Workers union in Madison, and has a long history of fighting for housing rights. She will be running in District 2, which includes most of the Isthmus north of E. Washington Avenue, including neighborhoods around James Madison Park, Tenney Park, and Demetral Park. Elections will take place on April 7th, 2026.
Additional Organizing
Other important efforts this month included the following:
- No Appetite for Apartheid held a launch party, and is now regularly hosting Grocery Scouting with DSA. At these 1 hour events, you can meet a MADSA member at a specific grocery store and learn how to spot products for boycotting, and how to build your voice for pressuring stores to stop carrying companies that are complicit in the subjugation of Palestinian people.
- Phil Gasper held a talk on Trotsky’s Marxism at the Madison Public Library.
- Southern Dane County Branch successfully had its own membership meeting.
- There is now a working group meeting regularly about Fran Hong’s campaign.
- A temporary working group is aiming to establish a physical office for MADSA to help with our growing size and work load.
- Some chapter members have been seeking to grow community ties through art and music, and are building towards a community art build in March, as well as fostering a stronger chanting and music presence at protests.
Social Events
We continue hosting recurring social events – New Member Orientations, DSA 101, Coffee with Comrades, and the Rosebuddies program. A highlight from February was a special Galentine’s day event on February 13th!
The chapter also has a newly-started reading group for The Communist Manifesto, meeting on Saturdays at 10am.
Protest Song of the Month
MADSA members highlighted a few songs this month as part of the budding art and music efforts in the chapter. A recent feature was a modernized version of The Internationale, with lyrics updated in 2020 by Billy Bragg. Check it out here – song starts at 3 minutes in!
And that concludes our monthly round-up!
QCDSA’s Trans Right Working Group fights for trans and queer people against far-right repression
The Quad-City Worker Launches Video Platform
