List of elected socialist mayors in the United States explained

The following is a list of mayors who have declared themselves to be socialists or have been a member of a socialist party in the United States.

Statistics

In 1911, one author estimated that there were twenty-eight such mayors^[1] and in 1913 another author estimated thirty-four.^[2] In 1967, however, James Weinstein's table of "Cities and Towns Electing Socialist Mayors or Other Major Municipal Officers, 1911–1920" counted 74 such municipalities in 1911 and 32 in 1913, with smaller peaks in 1915 (22) and 1917 (18):^[3]

U.S. towns electing Socialist mayors or major officers, 1911–1920

Year	No.	Year	No.	Year	No.	Year	No.	Year	No.
1911	74	1913	32	1915	22	1917	18	1919	5
1912	8	1914	5	1916	6	1918	2	1920	2
Total	82	Total	37	Total	28	Total	20	Total	7

In 1911, the SPA won election to about 1,141 local offices in total.^[4]

List of mayors

Mayor	Term start	Term end	City	State	class=unsortable		Party	Ref
	2023	Current	Richmond	California			Democratic Party (DSA member)	^[5]
	2023	Current	Allegheny County	Pennsylvania			Democratic Party (DSA member, now former)	^[6]
	2022	2023	Burbank	California			Democratic Party (DSA member)	^[7]
khalid Kamau	2022	Current	South Fulton	Georgia			Democratic Party (DSA member^[8] and WFP endorsed)	^[9] ^[10] ^[11]
	2021	Current	South San Francisco	California			Democratic Party (DSA member)	^[12]
	2018	Current	Montpelier	Vermont			Fusion candidate: Vermont Progressive Party and Democratic
	2018	Current	Montgomery County	Maryland			Democratic Party (DSA member)	^[13]
	2017	Current	Jackson	Mississippi			Democratic Party, self-described socialist	^[14]
	2015	2019	Portland	Maine			Democratic Party (DSA member)	^[15]
	2013	2014	Jackson	Mississippi			Democratic Party, self-described socialist	^[16]
	2007	2011	Oakland	California			Democratic Party (DSA member)	^[17]
	2006	2012	Burlington	Vermont			Vermont Progressive Party
	1995	2006	Burlington	Vermont			Vermont Progressive Party (1995-2004), then Democratic Party (2004-2006)
	1990	1994	Saint Paul	Minnesota			Democratic Party (DSA member)	^[18]
	1990	1993	New York City	New York			Democratic Party (DSA member)	^[19]
	1989	1993	Burlington	Vermont			Vermont Progressive Party
	1989	1995	Ithaca	New York			Democratic Party (DSA member)	^[20]
	1981	1989	Burlington	Vermont			Independent	^[21]
	1979	1986	Berkeley	California			Berkeley Citizens Action (DSA member)	^[22]
	1976	1987	University Heights	Iowa			Socialist Party of America	^[23]
	1948	1960	Milwaukee	Wisconsin			Socialist Party of America
	1947	1951	Norwalk	Connecticut			Socialist Party of America	^[24] ^[25]
	1943	1947	Reading	Pennsylvania			Socialist Party of America
	1935	1939	Reading	Pennsylvania			Socialist Party of America
	1933	1953	Rockford	Illinois			Rockford Progressive Party	^[26]
	1933	1957	Bridgeport	Connecticut			Socialist Party of America
	1931	1932	Racine	Wisconsin			Socialist Party of America	^[27] ^[28]
	1929	1931	Barre	Vermont			Socialist Party of America
	1927	1931	Reading	Pennsylvania			Socialist Party of America
	1925	1929	Peabody	Massachusetts			Non-partisan election, member of the Socialist Party of America	^[29] ^[30]
	1922	unclear	Rahway	New Jersey			Socialist Party of America	^[31]
	1921	1933	Rockford	Illinois			Rockford Labor Legion (1921-29), then Independent (1929-33)	^[32]
	1920	1922	Davenport	Iowa			Socialist Party of America	^[33]
	1920	1923	Haverhill	Massachusetts			Socialist Party of America	^[34]
	1920	1922	Lackawanna	New York			Socialist Party of America	^[35]
	1918		Piqua	Ohio			Socialist Party of America	^[36]
	1918	1921	Eureka	Utah			Socialist Party of America	^[37]
	1917	1919	Minneapolis	Minnesota			Socialist Party of America (1917-18), then Public Ownership Party (1918-19)	^[38]
	1916		West Allis	Wisconsin			Socialist Party of America	^[39]
	1916	1940	Milwaukee	Wisconsin			Socialist Party of America
	1916	1917	Barre	Vermont			Socialist Party of America	^[40]
	1916	1917	Two Harbors	Minnesota			Socialist Party of America	^[41]
	1915	1917	Schenectady	New York			Socialist Party of America	^[42]
	1915		Adamston	West Virginia			Socialist Party of America
	1915	1919	Eureka	California			Socialist Party of America
	1914	1915	Edgewater	Colorado			Socialist Party of America
	1914	1916	Lake Worth	Florida			Socialist Party of America
	1914	1915	St. Johns	Oregon			Socialist Party of America	^[43]
	1913	1914	Naugatuck	Connecticut			Socialist Party of America
	1913	1914	Lafayette	Colorado			Socialist Party of America
	1912	1913	Crookston	Minnesota			Socialist Party of America	^[44]	" Social Democratic Herald [Milwaukee], vo. 14, no. 28, whole no. 693 (Nov. 11, 1911), p. 1.
	1912		Linden Heights	Ohio			Socialist Party of America	^[45]
	1912	1916	Paonia	Colorado			Socialist Party of America
	1912	1915	Murray	Utah			Socialist Party of America	^[46] ^[47]
	1912	1914	Fairhope	Alabama			Socialist Party of America	^[48] ^[49]
	1912	1915	New Castle	Pennsylvania			Socialist Party of America	^[50]
	1912	1913	Cedar City	Utah			Socialist Party of America
	1912		Harbor Springs	Michigan			Socialist Party of America	^[51]
	1912	1913	St. Marys	Ohio			Socialist Party of America	^[52]
	1912		Lorain	Ohio			Socialist Party of America
	1912	1913	Mount Vernon	Ohio			Socialist Party of America
	1912		Lima	Ohio			Socialist Party of America
	1912	1914	Hartford	Arkansas			Socialist Party of America	^[53] ^[54]
	1912	1916	Daly City	California			Socialist Party of America
	1911	1913	Schenectady	New York			Socialist Party of America
	1911		Manitowoc	Wisconsin			Socialist Party of America
	1911		Wymore	Nebraska			Socialist Party of America
	1911	1912	Flint	Michigan			Socialist Party of America	^[55]
	1911	1915	Toronto	Ohio			Socialist Party of America
	1911	1913	Mineral Ridge	Ohio			Socialist Party of America
	1911	1917	Star City	West Virginia			Socialist Party of America
	1911	1913	Berkeley	California			Socialist Party of America
	1911	1913	Coeur d'Alène	Idaho			Socialist Party of America	^[56]
	1911		Marinette	Wisconsin			Socialist Party of America
	1911		Granite City	Illinois			Socialist Party of America	^[57]
	1911		Girard	Kansas			Socialist Party of America
	1911		Beatrice	Nebraska			Socialist Party of America
	1911		Two Harbors	Minnesota			Socialist Party of America	^[58]
	1911		Red Cloud	Nebraska			Socialist Party of America	^[59]
	1911		Edmonds	Washington			Socialist Party of America	^[60]
	1911	1913	Gulfport	Florida			Socialist Party of America	^[61]
	1911	1914	Butte	Montana			Socialist Party of America	^[62] ^[63]
	1911	1915	Victor	Colorado			Socialist Party of America
	1911		Greenville	Michigan			Socialist Party of America	^[64]
	1911	1913	Pasadena	California			Socialist Party of America	^[65]
	1910	1912	Milwaukee	Wisconsin			Socialist Party of America	^[66]
	1910	1912	Ledford	Illinois			Socialist Party of America	^[67]
	1910	1911	Minot	North Dakota			Socialist Party of America	^[68]
	1909	1910	Brainerd	Minnesota			Socialist Party of America	^[69]
	1909	1914	Grand Junction	Colorado			Socialist Party of America
	1908		Eureka	Utah			Socialist Party of America	^[70]
	1906	1907	Cedar City	Utah			Socialist Party of America	^[71]
	1906	1912	Toledo	Ohio			Socialist Party of America	^[72]	" Social Democratic Herald [Milwaukee], vo. 14, no. 28, whole no. 693 (Nov. 11, 1911), p. 1.
	1905	1906	Red Lodge	Montana			Socialist Party of America	^[73] ^[74]
	1903	1904	Haverhill	Massachusetts			Socialist Party of America	^[75]
	1903		Anaconda	Montana			Socialist Party of America	^[76]
	1903	1904	Sheboygan	Wisconsin			Socialist Party of America	^[77] ^[78]
	1900	1901	Brockton	Massachusetts			Social Democratic Party, then Socialist Party of America	^[79]
	1898	1900	Haverhill	Massachusetts			Social Democratic Party, then Socialist Party of America	^[80]

See also

• Other lists:
  • List of socialist members of the United States Congress
  • List of Democratic Socialists of America public officeholders
  • List of Green politicians who have held office in the United States (none at federal level)
  • List of Communist Party USA members who have held office in the United States (none at federal level)
• History of the socialist movement in the United States
• The Squad (United States Congress)
• Congressional Progressive Caucus
• Millennial socialism

References

Bibliography

• Benjamin F. Arrington, Municipal History of Essex County in Massachusetts. Chicago: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1922; pg. 976.
• Henry Bengston, On the Left in America: Memoirs of the Scandinavian-American Labor Movement. SIU Press, 1999; pg. 237.
• Hiram Taylor French, History of Idaho: A Narrative Account of Its Historical Progress, Its People and Its Principal Interests. New York: New York Public Library, 1914; pg. 976.
• C. Hal Nelson, Sinnissippi Saga: A History of Rockford and Winnebago County, Illinois. Winnebago County Illinois Sesquicentennial Committee, 1968; pg. 536.
• Jack Ross, "Socialist Elected Officeholders, 1897-1960." The Socialist Party of America: A Complete History. Lincoln, NE: Potomac Books, 2015; pp. 609–638.
• James Weinstein, The Decline of Socialism in America 1912–1925. New York: Monthly Review Press, 1967; pp. 116–118.

Notes and References

1. Hoxie, Robert F. . "The Rising Tide of Socialism": A Study . The Journal of Political Economy . October 1911 . 19 . 8 . 609–631 . 1819423 . 10.1086/251906 . 153532544 .
2. Book: Ghent, W.J. . Socialism and Government: Working Programs and Records of Socialists in Office . 4 January 2010 . Girard, KS . Appeal to Reason . 1916 . 46 .
3. Book: Weinstein . James . 1967 . The Decline of Socialism in America, 1912–1925 . New York . Monthly Review Press, reprinted in 1969 by Vintage Books (Random House) . Table 2: "Cities and Towns Electing Socialist Mayors or Other Major Municipal Officers, 1911–1920".
4. News: 0027-8378 . Barkan . Ross . Why American Socialism Failed—and How It Could Prevail Today . 2024-03-14 . 2020-01-30 .
5. News: Chapnick . Max . 2021-07-13 . Sidewalk Socialists and the Path to Power . en . Current Affairs . 2023-05-19 . 2471-2647.
6. Web site: DSA Elected Officials Support Teacher Power and Working People Everywhere . March 6, 2019 . Democratic Socialists of America.
7. Web site: Why I'm Running. 2023-05-19. Konstantine Anthony for LA County Supervisor. en-US.
8. Web site: 'Capitalism Won't Save Black People': An Interview With khalid kamau . Scott . Heins . . January 14, 2020 . September 16, 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220916084533/https://jacobin.com/2020/01/khalid-kamau-south-fulton-interview-dsa.
9. Web site: 2022-01-05 . New South Fulton mayor hopes to further reduce crime, create economic opportunity . 2022-04-20 . 11Alive.com . en-US.
10. Web site: 2022-04-13 . Mayor khalid kamau is embracing South Fulton's identity as the Blackest city in America . 2022-04-20 . WABE . en-US.
11. Web site: Sanders-Backing Socialist Wins Big In Georgia City Council Race . Marans . Daniel . April 19, 2017 . HuffPost . en . January 2, 2020.
12. Web site: At last week's general meeting, Peninsula DSA made two endorsements and began planning our electoral work for the November elections. We're proud to endorse two democratic socialists running for local office: Lissette Espinoza-Garnica for Redwood City Council, District 3, and James Coleman for South San Francisco City Council, District 4. . Facebook.
13. News: Barrios. Jennifer. Marc Elrich: Candidate wants developers to pay more, would preserve social safety net. The Washington Post. May 25, 2022. June 18, 2018.
14. Web site: Gilbert . Katie . The Socialist Experiment . . 2017-09-05 . en-gb . 2020-12-25 . mdy-all .
15. News: Abramsky . Sasha . 2023-11-15 . The People's Republic of Portland, Maine . en-US . The Nation . 2023-12-07 . 0027-8378 . For Strimling, though, the loss turned out to be liberating, allowing him to push for radical policy reforms from the grassroots up rather than the City Council down. No longer constrained by the dysfunctional city government, the ex-mayor threw in his lot with members of the local DSA branch and took his ideas about housing reform directly to the people..
16. News: Free the Land: An Interview with Chokwe Lumumba. Bhaskar. Sunkara. 2014-06-01. 2017-04-09. Jacobin. But he was quick to portray his movement as an inclusive socialist one..
17. Web site: Our Democracy Is More Symbolic Than Real: An Interview With Ron Dellums . . John . Judis . John Judis . November 1976 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220717054417/https://jacobin.com/2018/07/ron-dellums-democratic-socialist-interview-death . July 17, 2022.
18. Democratic Left, vol. 8 no. 1 (January 1990), page 7.
19. Web site: Remembering David Dinkins . Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) . 5 November 2021.
20. Web site: Ben Nichols, professor emeritus, former mayor of Ithaca and lifelong activist, dies at 87 . . Cornell Chronicle . November 26, 2007 . Steele . Bill.
21. News: Where's the outrage over AIG bonuses?. Lisa. Lerer. 2009-07-16. 2009-08-04. The Politico. Only a handful of members, including self-described democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), criticized Goldman’s payments and questioned whether the company also received additional government assistance through the Federal Reserve..
22. Democratic Left Editorial Team . Millenium Issue #1 . Democratic Left . 26 . Democratic Socialists of America . Fall 1999 . 5 January 2021.
23. Book: Belgum, David Rudolph . Memoirs of Iowa's Only Socialist Mayor . Iowa City . Rose of Sharon Publishing House . 1990.
24. News: Socialists Sweep Norwalk Election; Party's Candidates for Mayor, Sheriff, Treasurer, and 11 for City Council Win . . October 7, 1947 . February 5, 2010.
25. "Freese Quits Socialists In Norwalk: Mayor Heads Party of Independents for November Election," Hartford Courant, August 14, 1951. Freese ran again for office as an independent, winning additional two year terms in 1951, 1953, and 1957. See: Ross, The Socialist Party of America, pg. 612.
26. Hal Nelson 1968, pp. 102.
27. Web site: Socialist Mayor Resigns from Party . February 5, 2010 . . April 9, 1932 .
28. Web site: 'Fruits of Victory' Suit Fruit-Selling Mayor-Elect . May 9, 2013 . . April 9, 1931 .
29. News: Associate Pastor of Mayor's Church . The Boston Globe . February 25, 1912.
30. News: Hoyt . Carlyle . Minister-Mayor Has Novel Ideas . The Boston Globe . December 4, 1924.
31. "A Socialist Mayor: New Jersey Socialists Carry Rahway," The New Age (Buffalo), June 1, 1922, pg. 5.
32. Bengston 1999, pp. 209.
33. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2864964/socialist_cl_barewald_elected_mayor/ "Socialists Elected,"
34. Arrington 1922, pp. 487.
35. Web site: Elect Socialist Mayor . February 5, 2010 . . November 5, 1919 .
36. "Socialist Mayor Frank B. Hamilton" was embroiled in a federal sedition case late in 1918. See: Ohio Socialist, whole no. 49 (Jan. 1, 1919), pp. 1, 4. He was elected in Nov. 1917, according to "Frank B. Hamilton," Miami County Genealogical Researchers, http://www.thetroyhistoricalsociety.org/
37. John S. McCormick and John R. Sillito, A History of Utah Radicalism: Startling, Socialistic, and Decidedly Revolutionary. Logan, UT: Utah State University Press, 2011; pg. 192.
38. Web site: Socialist Mayor Talks for Hillquit . February 5, 2010 . . November 5, 1917 .
39. Love was elected by a margin of 164 votes in the April 1916 election. "About the Milwaukee Election: Socialists Elect Mayor and Two Socialist Aldermen in West Allis," St. Louis Labor, whole no. 794 (April 22, 1916), pg. 8.
40. Book: Fry, Amy Lyons . Socialist Mayors . John J. Duffy . Samuel B. Hand . Ralph H. Orth . The Vermont Encyclopedia . University of Vermont Press . 2003 . 274 .
41. Bengston 1999, pp. 182.
42. Web site: Democrats Fail in Hunt for Candidate . February 5, 2010 . . July 6, 1918.
43. Michael Munk, "Socialist Party of Oregon," The Oregon Encyclopedia.
44. "Elections Bring Victory!
45. "1,000 Socialists Now in Office," Chicago Daily Socialist, vol. 6, no. 33 (Dec. 2, 1911), p. 1.
46. Ann Arbor Call, whole no. 91 (August 17, 1912), pg. 2.
47. Elected to two terms, 1911 and 1913. See: John S. McCormick and John R. Sillito, A History of Utah Radicalism, pg. 201.
48. Ross, The Socialist Party of America, pg. 609.
49. Web site: Socialist Mayor Chosen . February 5, 2010 . . September 18, 1912 .
50. Web site: Archived copy . 2019-12-01 . 2016-12-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161204035903/http://newcastlepa.org/History/Mayors/Mayors/mayors_13.html . dead .
51. A.R. Pontius, "Victory in Michigan," Appeal to Reason, whole no. 851 (March 23, 1912), p. 3.
52. "Comrades Who Will Control the City Government of St. Marys Ohio for the Next Two Years," International Socialist Review, vol. 12, no. 6 (Dec. 1911), pp. 376-378.
53. Web site: Socialist Mayor Defeated . https://web.archive.org/web/20110604092904/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/334308612.html?dids=334308612:334308612&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Apr+09,+1914&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=SOCIALIST+MAYOR+DEFEATED.&pqatl=google . dead . June 4, 2011 . February 5, 2010 . . April 9, 1914 . (pay-fee for article)
54. Web site: Arkansas Socialist Mayor . February 5, 2010 . . April 4, 1912 .
55. Web site: Socialist Mayor Defeated . February 5, 2010 . . April 2, 1912 .
56. French 1914, pp. 917.
57. Oscar Leonard, "From Mill Hand to Mayor," The Coming Nation, whole no. 37 (April 23, 1911), p. 14.
58. "Socialists Elect Mayor of Two Harbors, Minn.," Chicago Daily Socialist, vol. 5, no. 126 (March 23, 1911), p. 1.
59. Political Action [Milwaukee], whole no. 39 (April 15, 1911), pg. 1.
60. "Edmonds and Its Socialist Mayor," The Coming Nation, whole no. 34 (May 6, 1911), p. 5.
61. Ross, The Socialist Party of America, pg. 612.
62. "The Socialist Avalanche," Political Action [Milwaukee], whole no. 39 (April 15, 1911), pg. 1.
63. Web site: Butte Mayor and Sheriff Ousted . February 5, 2010 . . October 7, 1914 .
64. "Socialists in Greenville," The Coming Nation, whole no. 35 (May 13, 1911), p. 11.
65. Ross, The Socialist Party of America, pg. 610.
66. Web site: Socialist Mayor for Milwaukee . February 5, 2010 . . April 6, 1910 .
67. "Elect Mayor as Socialist," Chicago Daily Socialist, vol. 4, no. 156 (April 27, 1910), pg. 4.
68. LeSueur was elected on a ballot which did not list party affiliation but he was a veteran Socialist nominated to run by Local Grand Forks. See: Mila Tupper Maynard, "A Socialist Mayor and an Almost Mayor," Social-Democratic Herald [Milwaukee], vol. 13, no. 35, whole no. 648 (Dec. 31, 1910), pg. 2.
69. "Brainerd, Minn., Elects Socialist Mayor," St. Louis Labor, vol. 6, whole no. 429 (April 24, 1909), pg. 5.
70. John S. McCormick and John R. Sillito, A History of Utah Radicalism, pg. 190.
71. John S. McCormick and John R. Sillito, A History of Utah Radicalism, pg. 189.
72. Won 4th term in Nov. 1911 according to "Elections Bring Victory!
73. "Deadly Assault on Socialist Mayor," Chicago Daily Socialist, Dec. 17, 1906, pg. 3.
74. Ross 2015, p. 619.
75. "Address of a Socialist Mayor," American Labor Union Journal, vol. 1, no. 26 (April 2, 1903), pg. 2
76. Peter Buckingham, "Red Tom" Hickey: The Uncrowned King of Texas Socialism. College Station, TX: Texas A&M Press, 2020; p. 153
77. "Socialist Mayor Assumes Office: The Inauguration of Mayor Born at Sheboygan Marks the First Municipal Victory for Socialism in Wisconsin," Social Democratic Herald [Milwaukee], April 25, 1903, pg. 1.
78. Expelled by State Executive Board of the Social Democratic Party of Wisconsin on Jan. 16, 1904, for approving a private concession for a city trolley line. See: "The Expulsion of Mayor Born," Social Democratic Herald, Jan. 23, 1904, pg.5.
79. Won election in November 1899 by a plurality of 1,564. See: Appeal to Reason, Dec. 16, 1899, pg. 4.
80. Book: Henry . Bedford . 1966 . Socialism and the workers in Massachusetts, 1886-1912 . University of Massachusetts Press . 9780870230103.