Endorsements

Madison Area DSA has not yet endorsed any candidates in the 2026 Madison & Wisconsin elections.

Ready to run for office with Madison Area DSA and build our working class socialist movement? Please read our Endorsement Process and Endorsed Candidate Policy below.

Madison Area DSA Endorsement Process (Adopted 2025)

To be considered for an endorsement, candidates must submit a petition to dsamadison@gmail.com, signed by:

  • 3% (18 @ 600, as of October 2025) of MADSA members in good standing if the campaign is below state level office (ex: Madison Common Council, Dane County Board)
  • 5% (30 @ 600, as of October 2025) of MADSA members in good standing if the campaign is at or above state level office (ex: WI State Assembly, WI Governorship, U.S. Senate)

Signatures must be collected by any number of MADSA members in good standing (including the candidate) not formally involved in or employed by the campaign and cannot be collected while official DSA business is happening (ex: no collection during General Meeting, Committee Meetings, Working Group Meetings – excluding pre and post meeting socials).Petitions must include a checkbox with the following language: “I commit to contributing an average of 4 hours/month to this campaign (or at least 4 hours per month to chapter-endorsed campaigns if you have signed onto multiple candidate petitions that are endorsed by the chapter).”

Candidates will also be asked to fill out our questionnaire (sample here, may be adapted to specific races) and to join an interview with representatives from MADSA’s Electoral Working Group & Executive Committee.

Once candidates are determined to be eligible for our endorsement process, they will be invited to a candidate forum with MADSA members, which may or may not be at a general membership meeting.

Based on the above materials, the Electoral Working Group may determine whether to recommend an endorsement of a particular candidate. If so, they will write a draft campaign plan to be submitted as a resolution to an upcoming General Meeting.

Candidates are encouraged to read MADSA’s Endorsed Candidate Policy (below), and DSA’s National Platform, Workers Deserve More, before applying for our endorsement.

Madison Area DSA Endorsed Candidate Policy (Adopted 2025)

  1. All current MADSA endorsed elected officials and future endorsement applicants are informed by the MADSA Executive Committee that endorsed members and candidates are held to follow the expectations outlined below:
    1. Obtain and/or retain membership in DSA.
    2. Meet at least 3 times per year with the Executive Committee (or another body appointed by general membership to liaise with elected members).
    3. Make a best effort to attend monthly General Meetings (at minimum an average of one per quarter).
    4. Attend and participate in at least one chapter political education event per year.
    5. Not publicly disparage DSA or its principles.
    6. Vote in accordance with any future platforms or resolutions passed by general membership outlining political redlines for the chapter. This does not apply to any chapter positions or platforms passed before the 2025 Chapter Convention, unless these are brought back to a future general meeting and membership votes to reaffirm those positions. 
  2. All endorsed members holding elected office are held to follow the expectations outlined below regarding caucusing and endorsements with other endorsed DSA members:
    1. Work to build a socialist caucus in the relevant body they are elected to, if multiple endorsed DSA members are elected to the same body. This does not preclude participation in other caucuses in the same body.
    2. Bloc vote with other endorsed DSA members in whatever body they are elected to as a socialist caucus. This applies for votes where the socialist caucus has agreed to vote as a bloc, and for votes which MADSA or National have made part of their platform.
    3. An endorsed DSA member is expected to endorse other members running for office endorsed by Madison Area DSA.
    4. An endorsed DSA member is expected to not endorse against a DSA member endorsed by Madison Area DSA or another DSA chapter.
  3. MADSA commits to the following expectations for supporting electoral campaigns for candidates endorsed by the chapter.
    1. MADSA will host or encourage general membership to turn out to at least three phonebanks or canvasses for a candidate endorsed by the chapter, unless both the candidate and the chapter agree on adjusting this expectation.
  4. MADSA commits to the following for developing the chapter’s relationship with endorsed members currently in office.
    1. The Executive Committee or its assigned liaisons shall maintain regular communication with endorsed elected officials. Communications should include resolutions passed by the chapter or national DSA that should inform votes, as well as updates on other campaign endorsements when those are being considered.
    2. The Executive Committee and any other bodies appointed by the chapter will work with endorsed members in office to investigate and develop strategies for providing chapter support for endorsed members.
      1. This group should consider strategies including but not limited to:
        1. Socialist-in-office (SIO) committees
        2. Political education briefings from chapter members with relevant expertise as requested by elected members.
        3. MADSA member(s) providing support as part-time volunteer staffers or a kitchen cabinet for electeds.
      2. This group should prepare one or more proposals based on the above discussions to bring to chapter membership at a general meeting before the end of 2025.
  5. Endorsed members and the MADSA Executive Committee, in coordination with any other relevant bodies empowered by the chapter, shall report to membership quarterly on the activity of endorsed members (including but not limited to participation in chapter activities and key votes taken in office).
  6. The chapter shall intervene either by a resolution passed by membership or a motion passed by the Executive Committee to inform an endorsed member of the violation of any of these expectations and ask for correction. The endorsed member shall be notified of the purpose ahead of time and invited to join the debate regarding a resolution or motion.
  7. Endorsed members who continue to not commit to the aforementioned expectations after chapter intervention may be subject to the revocation of their chapter endorsement, following the process defined in the chapter bylaws.
  8. These expectations, and any other steps around the local endorsement process, will be listed on the chapter’s website for reference.