NYC Democratic Socialists Survey Shows Majority of Members Identify as White

The New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America published a demographic breakdown drawn from voluntary surveys answered by 63% of its 15,600 members. The data show that 60% of those who responded consider themselves white, with the remaining respondents identifying as Jewish (12%), Hispanic (14%), Black (9%), Asian (10%), South Asian (5%), Middle Eastern (4%), Native American (2%) and Pacific Islander (less than 1%).

By contrast, Census estimates place the city’s overall population at roughly 34% white, 22% Black, 29% Hispanic and 15% Asian. The release comes after Mayor Zohran Mamdani was asked about concerns that DSA is a “white movement,” which he addressed by highlighting the organization’s role in fostering new Black and brown leadership. The mayor’s recent campaign had attracted strong support from Black, Asian, Hispanic and Muslim voters, according to exit polls and an AP voter poll. This survey is the first detailed demographic snapshot since a nationwide DSA poll in 2021, which reported 85% white membership.