Brooklyn Councilman Chi Osse joined the Democratic Socialists of America earlier this yr, making him the fourth Metropolis Council member on the rolls of the left-wing group, which has turn into more and more influential amid the rise of mayoral front-runner Zohran Mamdani.
A supply within the group stated Chi joined across the time of June’s Democratic mayoral major, which Mamdani, a longtime DSA member, received by an almost 13% margin over ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
The revelation of Chi’s DSA membership comes on the heels of an Axios report that he has been contemplating launching a 2026 major problem in opposition to Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic Celebration’s minority chief within the U.S. Home of Representatives. Chi has neither confirmed nor denied that he’s mulling such a run.
The DSA’s standing as a drive in metropolis politics has surged since Mamdani shocked the political institution along with his Democratic mayoral major win. Mamdani is polling as the favourite to win subsequent month’s normal mayoral election, dealing with off once more in opposition to Cuomo, who’s working as an impartial this time round, and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa.
Osse represents components of Bedstuy and Crown Heights within the Council.
Zohran Mamdani. (Barry Williams / New York Every day Information)
Since his 2021 election, Osse has been a vocal proponent of progressive insurance policies. However he additionally used to maintain the DSA at arm’s size, together with specifying on social media in 2023 that he wasn’t supported by the group throughout his first marketing campaign after a web-based critic lambasted an announcement he had put out concerning the battle between Israel and Hamas.
The opposite three Metropolis Council members on the DSA rolls are Tiffany Caban of Queens, Alexa Aviles of Brooklyn and Shahana Hanif of Brooklyn. Along with Mamdani, who’s at present an Assemblyman representing northwestern Queens, the DSA additionally counts eight New York State lawmakers as members.
The DSA has lengthy been a pointy counterpoint to extra centrist Democrats, who concern lawmakers with extra leftist views might be utilized by Republicans to color all the celebration as ideologically excessive.
DSA members and their supporters have lengthy argued the alternative, saying their proposals, like tax hikes on the rich and expanded social packages, are broadly common with the celebration’s rank-and-file and ought to be embraced by all Democrats.
Councilmember Chi Osse attends a Metropolis Council assembly. (Adam Grey/AP)
At a significant marketing campaign rally in Manhattan on Monday evening, Mamdani hinted at that inside battle, saying his mayoral marketing campaign created “a movement that won the battle over the soul of the Democratic Party.”
“We are not afraid of our own ideas,” Mamdani stated to a crowd of over 3,000 supporters in a pointed jab at extra reasonable parts of the Democratic Celebration.
Osse first hinted at his DSA membership throughout Monday evening’s Mamdani rally, the place he was a speaker, too.
“If you want this movement to continue, you guys got to join New York City DSA,” Chi stated with out mentioning he just lately joined the group.
Initially Printed: October 14, 2025 at 11:24 AM EDT
