GMDSA’s Socialist Voter Guide for Town Meeting Day 2026
It is that time of year again, time for Vermont’s annual Town Meting Day tradition.
The last two years have seen schools and school budgets become the focus on local as well as state politics. As in every year, Green Mountain DSA (GMDSA) recommends voting yes on your local school budget.
GMDSA only chose to endorse one candidate for a local race this year, but there are elections in every town, city and village, some of which are more exciting than others. The rest of this voter guide will be a town-by-town breakdown of local races in areas where there is an active GMDSA presence, of both elections and ballot questions.
Burlington
Green Mountain DSA has only endorsed one candidate this TMD, being Marek Broderick, for re-election to the city council in Ward 8. Before first being elected in 2024, Marek was co-chair and an organizer with the UVM chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America, DSA’s youth section. As a councilor, Marek has fought for tenants’ rights on and off campus, including notably organizing with UVM's Student Tenant Union to win unanimous support for a resolution holding UVM accountable for poor housing conditions. Marek was unanimously endorsed for re-election by the chapter because the fight is not over. If Marek wins on March 3, he will continue to fight for housing for all, tenant rights, and a city that everyone can call home.
However, Marek’s advocacy for renters, students and the broader working class has not made him any friends within Burlington’s establishment. This year, the Democrat Party chose to nominate only one candidate to run against an incumbent: the landlord Ryan Nick, scion of commercial real estate tycoon Jeff Nick, is running to unseat Marek.
Nick has been able to raise considerable cash through his connections to the city’s monied interests, mostly from other landlords and real estate moguls. This is fitting, as Nick has made a name for himself as a vocal opponent of essential harm reduction services like the Howard Center’s needle exchange, and an opponent of mutual aid groups like Food Not Cops. Ryan himself works for his father’s real estate company, JL Davis Realty, on “tenant relations,” according to his CCTV candidate forum. Between his status as one of Burlington’s landlords and his antagonism of community groups, Green Mountain DSA believes that Nick cannot be trusted to hold police accountable and exactly represents the elites’ status quo that is crushing us workers.
If you live in Ward 8, please vote to re-elect Marek Broderick!
Green Mountain DSA recommends voting for all other Progressive candidates, including in Ward 7, where Bill Standen is running to unseat Democrat Even Litwin. Green Mountain DSA also recommends voting yes on question three, which would enshrine the city’s Racial Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Office in the city charter.
Lastly, the coalition that put Proposition 0 on the ballot in 2023 is at it again, aiming to get the direct democracy charter change on the ballot again in time for the November midterms. We recommend signing the petition to get Proposition 0 on the ballot.
Winooski
In Winooski, there are no contested races for city council or the mayor. Green Mountain DSA offers no recommendations for this election, other than a yes vote for both the city and school budgets, particularly article six which would allow the school to purchase a nearby home to the school with surplus funds. The property will be used by the school for specialized educational settings for students who need it. Currently, the school system does not have something like this and students who need a specialized education setting are required to travel out of district. We would also like to note that an added benefit of this purchase is removing a known Zionist's pro Israel propaganda from the property being purchased.
GMDSA also recommends Katie Livermore, who is running for re-election to the School Board. Many Winooski GMDSAers know her from her work on the Winooski AFC campaign which passed last year with over 70% approval. Katie played an integral role in that campaign and continues to organize in her community both in the school and outside.
South Burlington
Unlike Burlington, and like Winooski and the rest of Vermont municipalities, South Burlington elections are officially non-partisan. However, this does not stop them from being competitive. For the two-year seat this year, the two candidates running are Amy Allen and Beth Zigmund. Allen seems to be a typical pro-business, establishment candidate, while Zigmund is running with the support of progressive non-profits like Run on Climate (which also endorsed Marek Broderick). Green Mountain DSA offers no recommendation in this race, but leans toward favoring Zigmund.
Montpelier
Montpelier residents will again vote on the Apartheid-Free Communities (AFC) pledge, after it was voted down last year. The pledge, which passed last year in Winooski and various other towns across Vermont, condemns Israel’s system of Apartheid, settler colonialism and occupation, and commits the signer to fighting for liberation in Palestine. Green Mountain DSA endorses AFC, and urges Montpelier residents to vote yes.
Waterbury
On Waterburry’s ballot this year, there are three seats up for election: one three-year seat, and two one-year. For the three-year seat, Republican Chris Viens is the only candidate to have made it onto the ballot. Fortunately, former Selectboard member Don Schneider has announced a write-in campaign, and we recommend writing in his name. The chapter offers no recommendation for the one-year seat, but recommends voting yes on the Randall Meadow bond question .
Randolph
Randolph residents of the police district again face an increased police budget, this time to $893,357. Despite the district containing less than half the town’s total population of just 4,774 people, the police budget is approximately a sixth of the town’s budget. Green Mountain DSA recommends residents vote no on the police budget.
Randolph also has two selectboard elections this year. The three-year seat race is between Ashley Lincoln and Emery Mattheis, and the two-year seat is between Bethany Silloway and Dustin Adams. Mattheis and Adams are running with the newly-formed “Committee for a Cooler ‘Dolf,” organized by a GMDSA member. Adams is also a GMDSA member himself, although he did not seek the chapter’s endorsement. GMDSA recommends voting for Emery Mattheis and Dustin Adams.
St Albans
St. Albans has a relatively slim election this year. Three city seats are open – two city counselors and the Mayor – all of which are uncontested.
Article three continues a seven year project to upgrade and update the city's 1953 water system. The current ask is for St. Albans residents to permit the borrowing of $800,000 to refurbish the existing town water tank; this accounts for half the total cost (project total of $1.6M) with the remaining $800,000 covered by a no-interest 40 year loan. Completion of the project will ensure that St. Albans continues to provide safe, clean water to residents without service interruption caused by maintenance: GMDSA recommends voting yes on Article three.
Article two is a proposed budget for FY2027. Effort has been made to keep expenses low for residents with a modest property tax increase of 2.2% (estimated to be $50 more per resident throughout the year), and the budget includes capital improvements for the Welden Theater, new breathing apparatuses for fire responders, a lawn mower for city parks and properties, an increase in services provided by the Restorative Justice Center, and a new snow plow. The budget also includes a substantial increase for Police and Dispatch wages, as well as two new vehicles (one marked, one unmarked) for the St. Albans Police Department. Because the FY27 budget devotes nearly 50% of its total projected $15.5M expenditure to Dispatch and Police service, GMDSA recommends voting no on Article 2 unless the police budget is disentangled from other budgetary needs or the increase in police spending explicates integration of support/social service resources into law enforcement services.
Town Meeting Day is Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Please email us at hello@greenmountaindsa.org if you’d like to join a canvass between now and then, or if you’d like to see an item on your town’s ballot included in this guide.
You can check your voter registration here.
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
QCDSA’s Trans Right Working Group fights for trans and queer people against far-right repression
Endorsement: Marek Broderick for Burlington City Council
Congratulations to Marek Broderick of Green Mountain DSA, we proudly endorse your re-election to Burlington’s City Council!
Marek’s time so far on the city council is marked by his dedication to protecting renters, supporting students, and public service!
When students at UVM organized for better living conditions, Marek listened, and acted! The city council passed a resolution to address the deteriorating dorms thanks to Marek’s action and students’ organizing! 
DSA is proud to continue fighting alongside Marek for a better Burlington!
Marek is part of a slate of candidates in the Socialist Cash Takes Out Capitalist Trash fundraising project!
Syracuse DSA: The Affordability Slate!
📢 Big news, #Syracuse: We're officially launching The Affordability Slate! ✴️Tammy Honeywell ✴️Jo Bennett ✴️Maurice Brown Jointly endorsed by @nywfp.bsky.social, they’re committed to fighting for a working-class platform: 🏠 Truly affordable housing 👶 Universal childcare 🚌 Expanded transit access
The Suppressed History of the Black Socialist Tradition
Milwaukee DSA, allies support ICE Out plan for Milwaukee
The Milwaukee Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and their allies are telling the Milwaukee Common Council to pass the ICE Out legislation package.
Announced earlier this month at City Hall, the package includes several pieces that will work to limit ICE operations in Milwaukee and help protect people here from the death, abuse, and chaos brought on by ICE during their operations across the country:
- Resolution declaring opposition to how federal immigration enforcement activities are occurring in the United States and amending the City of Milwaukee’s legislative package
- Communication from various City agencies relating to strategies and responses the City might use in response to militaristic actions undertaken by the federal government targeted at the City
- Resolution prohibiting the use of City property by federal law enforcement agencies engaged in immigration-related activities
- Resolution instructing the Milwaukee Police Department to protect the rights of community members when they engage in constitutionally protected speech and assembly, and intervene to protect community members if anyone, including other law enforcement agency personnel, attempts to abridge the public’s constitutional rights
- Ordinance prohibiting all law enforcement officers, when acting in an official capacity, from wearing masks or face coverings, and requires that both agency and individualized identification be worn
- Motion modifying Milwaukee Police Department Standard Operating Procedure 340 – Uniforms / Equipment / Appearance
- Motion modifying Milwaukee Police Department Standard Operating Procedures regarding the duty to intervene, investigate, and report unreasonable uses of force
- Motion modifying Milwaukee Police Department Standard Operating Procedure 172 – Sick and Injured Persons
- Ordinance creating an office for new Milwaukeeans
“Let this legislative package serve as a message that Milwaukee will step up against ICE and the authoritarian Trump administration ripping families apart,” Milwaukee DSA Co-Chair Autumn Pickett said. “I’m so proud to see that—after less than a day—nearly 4,000 emails have already been sent to City Hall, as everyday people join the call for these protective measures.”
DSA organizers are calling on members, supporters, and allies to email Milwaukee City Hall and tell the Common Council to pass this package quickly and do its part to keep Milwaukee safe from ICE.
“Our work doesn’t end here: More than 20,000 Milwaukeeans have already joined the local community defense network to watch for ICE activity, deliver groceries to at-risk families, inform our neighbors of their rights, organize within our unions to protect our workplaces, and so much more,” Pickett said. “We will continue to fight for the better future that all working people deserve.”
Milwaukee DSA is Milwaukee’s largest socialist organization fighting against imperialism for a democratic economy, a just society, and a sustainable environment. Join today at dsausa.org/join.
Denver DSA Endorses Melat Kiros for Congress in CO’s 1st District
— The chapter’s first federal endorsement
Denver Democratic Socialists of America (DDSA) is the Denver-area chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, the largest socialist organization in the United States. Our members are building enduring working-class power right here in the Mile High City. Democratic Socialists believe that both the economy and society should be run by the people—to meet public needs, not to make profits for the few.
DENVER, CO – Denver DSA members voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to endorse Melat Kiros for Colorado’s 1st Congressional District in the 2026 Democratic primary on June 30th, with 94.7% of voting members in favor of her endorsement.
She is running against incumbent Diana DeGette, who has represented the district since 1997. In her 29-year tenure, DeGette has taken nearly $95,000 from AIPAC and hundreds of thousands of dollars from the pharmaceutical industry.
“As a proud Democratic Socialist, I’m honored to receive the endorsement of Denver DSA at a moment when so many people are demanding more from our politics and from each other. Across Denver, working people are stepping forward and saying we deserve a city where housing is affordable, healthcare is accessible, and a government that actually works for working people, not corporate lobbyists,” said Denver DSA-endorsed candidate for Congress in CO-1 Melat Kiros. “This endorsement isn’t just about one campaign, it’s about a growing movement of neighbors who believe that ordinary people, organized together, can shape the future of our city. This is our moment to build something better and together, we will fight like hell for it.”
“Denverites deserve a Congresswoman with the courage to stand up for what’s right, even when that means facing backlash from powerful corporate interests. Melat Kiros continues to demonstrate that courage as she fights with us for a world in which all people can live dignified lives, from the Platte to Palestine,” said Denver DSA Co-Chair Brynn Lemos.
About Melat Kiros: Melat is a barista, graduate student, and recovering lawyer who was fired from her job as an attorney for refusing to stay silent about Israel’s genocide in Palestine. Now she’s running to deliver Medicare For All, affordable housing, universal childcare, an arms embargo, and radical sustainability for working class-Coloradans. Her endorsements include City Councilmember and Denver DSA member Sarah Parady, Justice Democrats, Sunrise Movement, and now the Denver Democratic Socialists of America.