Socialist Politicians Grow in US Cities

Jun 18, 2026, 19:07
USPolitics
A2

Socialist Politicians Grow in US Cities

社會主義政治人物在美國城市崛起

Introduction

Some socialist politicians want more power in big US cities. They are working in New York City and Washington, D.C.

一些社會主義政治人物希望在美國大城市擁有更多權力。他們正在紐約市和華盛頓特區活動。

Main Body

In Washington, D.C., Janeese Lewis George wants to be the mayor. She wants more help for children and houses. President Trump is unhappy. He says the federal government might take control of the city.

在華盛頓特區，Janeese Lewis George 想要擔任市長。她希望增加對兒童和房屋的幫助。川普總統對此感到不滿，他表示聯邦政府可能會接管該市。

In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani helps other socialist candidates. He and Bernie Sanders support Claire Valdez. She is in a race against Antonio Reynoso. Both people like the same things, but they belong to different groups.

在紐約市，市長 Zohran Mamdani 協助其他社會主義候選人。他與 Bernie Sanders 一同支持 Claire Valdez。她目前正在與 Antonio Reynoso 競爭。兩人認同的目標相似，但隸屬於不同的團體。

In Los Angeles, Nithya Raman is in a race for mayor. In Arizona, Republican politicians want to win. They talk about money and low prices. This shows that cities and states have very different ideas.

在洛杉磯，Nithya Raman 正在競選市長。在亞利桑那州，共和黨政治人物希望獲勝。他們討論資金與低價。這顯示了城市與州之間有著截然不同的想法。

Conclusion

The socialist group (DSA) wants to move from small protests to big government jobs.

社會主義團體 (DSA) 希望從小型抗議轉向擔任政府高層職務。

Vocabulary Learning

The 'Who Wants What' Pattern

Look at these sentences from the text:

  • Janeese Lewis George wants to be the mayor.
  • Some socialist politicians want more power.

The Simple Rule: When we talk about a person's goals, we use Want.

How to change it:

  1. One person (He/She/Name) →\rightarrow Wants
  2. Many people (They/We) →\rightarrow Want

Quick Guide for A2: If you want a thing (noun), just say it: →\rightarrow They want money.

If you want to do something (action), use to: →\rightarrow She wants to win.

Word Bank from the story:

  • Mayor (The city boss)
  • Race (The competition for a job)
  • Power (Control)

Vocabulary Learning

politician (n.)
A person whose job is in government
Example:The politician spoke to the people about new laws.
federal (adj.)
Related to the central government of a country
Example:The federal government makes rules for the whole nation.
candidate (n.)
A person who is trying to be elected for a job
Example:She is a candidate for the mayor of the city.
support (v.)
To help or agree with someone
Example:Many people support the new leader.
protest (n.)
An event where people show they disagree with something
Example:The students held a protest for better schools.
B2

The Growth of Democratic Socialist Influence in Major U.S. Cities and Congress

民主社會主義影響力在美國主要城市與國會的增長

Introduction

Democratic Socialist candidates are currently trying to increase their power in several major American cities, most notably in New York City and Washington, D.C.

民主社會主義候選人目前正試圖在幾個美國主要城市增加權力，最顯著的是在紐約市與華盛頓特區。

Main Body

In Washington, D.C., Councilmember Janeese Lewis George is expected to become mayor after her primary opponent, Kenyan McDuffie, admitted defeat. Lewis George has emphasized the need for more childcare and housing subsidies, and she wants to stop local cooperation with federal immigration officers. This change is expected to cause a conflict with the federal government. President Donald Trump has suggested that the federal government might take back control of the city's administration if a 'socialist' candidate wins. In the past, the administration has used federal power by sending in the National Guard and taking control of local police.

在華盛頓特區，市議員 Janeese Lewis George 預計將成為市長，因為她的初選對手 Kenyan McDuffie 已承認失敗。Lewis George 強調需要更多的兒童照顧與住房補貼，且她希望停止與聯邦移民官員的地方合作。此舉預計將導致與聯邦政府產生衝突。川普總統曾暗示，若「社會主義」候選人獲勝，聯邦政府可能會收回對該市行政的控制權。過去，政府曾透過派遣國民警衛隊並接管當地警察來行使聯邦權力。

Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is using his position to influence congressional elections. Mamdani has formed a strategic partnership with Senator Bernie Sanders to support a group of progressive candidates. A major competition is happening in New York's Seventh Congressional District, where Mamdani has supported State Assembly Member Claire Valdez. Valdez is running against Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, who is supported by the retiring Representative Nydia Velázquez and the Working Families Party. Although both candidates have progressive views on Gaza and immigration, the main difference is that Valdez is closely linked to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), whereas Reynoso has stronger ties to local institutions.

同時，紐約市長 Zohran Mamdani 正在利用其職位影響國會選舉。Mamdani 與參議員 Bernie Sanders 建立了策略合作夥伴關係，以支持一組進步派候選人。紐約第七國會選區正發生激烈的競爭，Mamdani 在該區支持州議會議員 Claire Valdez。Valdez 正與布魯克林區區長 Antonio Reynoso 競爭，後者獲得即將退休的眾議員 Nydia Velázquez 及勞工家庭黨的支持。雖然兩位候選人在加薩與移民問題上均持有進步觀點，但主要區別在於 Valdez 與美國民主社會主義者 (DSA) 關係密切，而 Reynoso 與當地體制的聯繫較強。

This ideological shift is also visible in Los Angeles, where Nithya Raman has reached the final round of the mayoral race. On the other hand, in Arizona, the Republican primary features a contest between Andy Biggs and David Schweikert. Both are trying to replace Governor Katie Hobbs by focusing on low costs and financial discipline. Consequently, this reflects a wider national divide between socialist-leaning cities and conservative challengers at the state level.

這種意識形態的轉變在洛杉磯也清晰可見，Nithya Raman 已進入市長競選的最終輪。另一方面，在亞利桑那州，共和黨初選出現了 Andy Biggs 與 David Schweikert 之間的競爭。兩人均試圖透過關注低成本與財務紀律來取代州長 Katie Hobbs。因此，這反映了傾向社會主義的城市與州級保守派挑戰者之間更廣泛的全國分歧。

Conclusion

The current political situation shows a clear effort by the DSA to move from small community organizing to holding formal leadership roles in government.

目前的政治局勢顯示，DSA 顯然正試圖從小型社區組織轉向在政府中擔任正式領導角色。

Vocabulary Learning

⚡ The 'B2 Bridge': Mastering Logical Connectors

To move from A2 (basic sentences) to B2 (fluent flow), you must stop using only and, but, and because. Look at how this article glues complex political ideas together using Transition Signals.

🛠️ The Tool: Contrast & Result Markers

Instead of simple sentences, the text uses these specific words to show the relationship between two ideas:

  • "Whereas" →\rightarrow Used to compare two different things in one sentence.

    • Example: "Valdez is linked to the DSA, whereas Reynoso has ties to local institutions."
    • A2 version: "Valdez is linked to the DSA. But Reynoso has ties to local institutions."
    • B2 Upgrade: Use whereas to sound more academic and fluid.

  • "Consequently" →\rightarrow Used to show a direct result of a situation.

    • Example: "...conservative challengers at the state level. Consequently, this reflects a wider national divide."
    • A2 version: "This happened, so there is a national divide."
    • B2 Upgrade: Use consequently at the start of a sentence to create a formal cause-and-effect link.

  • "On the other hand" →\rightarrow Used to shift focus to a contrasting perspective.

    • Example: "...mayoral race. On the other hand, in Arizona..."
    • A2 version: "Also, in Arizona..."
    • B2 Upgrade: This signals to the reader that you are now presenting a opposite or different scenario.

🚀 Quick Application

A2 Logic: I like city life. It is noisy. I live in a flat. B2 Logic: I enjoy the vibrancy of city life, whereas I dislike the noise; consequently, I have decided to move to a quieter suburb.

The Secret: B2 speakers don't just give information; they tell the reader how the information is connected.

Vocabulary Learning

subsidies (n.)
Sums of money granted by the government to help keep the cost of a service low
Example:The government provides housing subsidies to help low-income families afford rent.
cooperation (n.)
The process of working together with others to achieve a common goal
Example:International cooperation is essential to solve the problem of climate change.
strategic (adj.)
Relating to a long-term plan to achieve a specific goal
Example:The company made a strategic decision to expand into the Asian market.
progressive (adj.)
Favoring social reform and new, liberal ideas
Example:The candidate proposed progressive policies to improve healthcare access for all.
ideological (adj.)
Based on or relating to a system of ideas and ideals, especially concerning economic or political policy
Example:The two parties have a deep ideological divide regarding the role of government in the economy.
discipline (n.)
The practice of training people to obey rules or a system of organization and control
Example:The company is focusing on financial discipline to reduce its overall debt.
consequently (adv.)
As a result of something that has happened
Example:The city failed to invest in infrastructure; consequently, the traffic congestion worsened.
C2

Expansion of Democratic Socialist Influence in Major U.S. Municipal and Congressional Contests

民主社會主義勢力在美國主要城市與國會選舉中擴張

Introduction

Democratic Socialist candidates are currently seeking to expand their institutional footprint across several major American urban centers, most notably in New York City and Washington, D.C.

民主社會主義候選人目前正尋求在多個美國主要城市中心擴大其制度影響力，最顯著的在於紐約市與華盛頓特區。

Main Body

In Washington, D.C., Councilmember Janeese Lewis George is positioned to assume the mayoralty following the concession of her primary opponent, Kenyan McDuffie. Lewis George's platform emphasizes the expansion of childcare and housing subsidies, alongside the cessation of local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. This transition is anticipated to precipitate a confrontation with the executive branch; President Donald Trump has suggested a potential federal reclamation of the district's administration should a 'socialist' candidate prevail. The administration has previously exercised federal authority via the deployment of the National Guard and the federalization of local police forces.

在華盛頓特區，市議員 Janeese Lewis George 在其初選對手 Kenyan McDuffie 認輸後，準備接任市長之職。Lewis George 的政綱強調擴大兒童照顧與房屋補貼，並停止與聯邦移民執法部門的在地合作。預計這次過渡將導致與行政部門的對峙；川普總統暗示，若「社會主義」候選人勝出，聯邦政府可能會重新接管該特區的行政權。行政部門此前已透過部署國民警衛隊及將在地警察聯邦化來行使聯邦權力。

Simultaneously, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is leveraging his executive visibility to influence congressional primaries. Mamdani has formed a strategic alliance with Senator Bernie Sanders to support a slate of progressive candidates. A primary point of contention exists in New York's Seventh Congressional District, where Mamdani has endorsed State Assembly Member Claire Valdez. Valdez is contesting the seat against Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, who possesses the endorsement of the retiring Representative Nydia Velázquez and the Working Families Party. While both candidates maintain progressive stances on Gaza and immigration, the contest is characterized by a divide between Valdez's alignment with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and Reynoso's deeper local institutional ties.

與此同時，紐約市長 Zohran Mamdani 正利用其行政首長的曝光度來影響國會初選。Mamdani 已與參議員 Bernie Sanders 形成策略聯盟，以支持一批進步派候選人。紐約第七國會選區是一個主要爭論點，Mamdani 在該區支持州議會議員 Claire Valdez。Valdez 正與布魯克林區區長 Antonio Reynoso 競爭該席位，而後者獲得了即將退休的眾議員 Nydia Velázquez 及勞工家庭黨（Working Families Party）的支持。儘管兩位候選人在加薩問題與移民議題上均維持進步立場，但此場競爭的特徵在於 Valdez 與美國民主社會主義者（DSA）的結盟，以及 Reynoso 更深厚的在地制度聯繫。

Beyond these centers, the ideological shift is evident in Los Angeles, where Nithya Raman has advanced to a runoff for mayor. Conversely, in Arizona, the Republican gubernatorial primary features a contest between Representatives Andy Biggs and David Schweikert, both of whom seek to unseat Governor Katie Hobbs by focusing on affordability and fiscal discipline, reflecting a broader national polarization between socialist-leaning urban centers and conservative state-level challengers.

除這些中心城市外，意識形態的轉移在洛杉磯亦十分明顯，Nithya Raman 已進入市長選舉的決選。相反地，在亞利桑那州，共和黨州長初選出現了眾議員 Andy Biggs 與 David Schweikert 之間的競爭，兩人均試圖透過聚焦於生活可負擔性與財政紀律來取代州長 Katie Hobbs，反映出社會主義傾向的城市中心與保守派州級挑戰者之間更廣泛的全國性極化。

Conclusion

The current political landscape is defined by a systemic effort by the DSA to transition from grassroots organizing to formal executive and legislative governance.

目前的政治格局是由 DSA 系統性地嘗試將草根組織轉型為正式的行政與立法治理所定義。

Vocabulary Learning

The Architecture of Nominalization and 'High-Density' Academic Prose

To transition from B2 to C2, a student must move beyond describing actions to conceptualizing them. The provided text is a masterclass in Nominalization—the process of turning verbs (actions) or adjectives (qualities) into nouns. This is the hallmark of professional, political, and academic English, as it allows the writer to pack complex causal relationships into a single noun phrase.

◈ The Anatomy of the 'Density Shift'

Observe the transformation from a B2-style narrative to the C2-level prose found in the text:

  • B2 Narrative: The administration used federal authority by sending in the National Guard. (Linear, action-oriented, simple).
  • C2 Analysis: The administration has previously exercised federal authority via the deployment of the National Guard...

Analysis: By replacing the verb "sending" with the noun "deployment," the writer transforms a simple action into a strategic event. The noun "deployment" now functions as a conceptual object that can be analyzed, categorized, and linked to the broader concept of "federal authority."

◈ Critical Linguistic Patterns for Mastery

  1. The 'Precipitate' Trigger:

    • Text: "...anticipated to precipitate a confrontation..."
    • C2 Insight: Instead of saying "This will cause a fight," the author uses "precipitate" (to cause an event to happen suddenly). Pairing it with the nominalized "confrontation" creates a tone of clinical inevitability.

  2. Abstracting the Process:

    • Text: "...cessation of local cooperation..."
    • C2 Insight: "Stop cooperating" →\rightarrow "Cessation of cooperation." The use of cessation shifts the focus from the act of stopping to the state of no longer cooperating. This is essential for legal and diplomatic writing.

  3. The Strategic Use of 'Footprint' as a Metaphorical Noun:

    • Text: "...expand their institutional footprint..."
    • C2 Insight: This is a sophisticated conceptual metaphor. The writer isn't talking about actual feet, but using a spatial noun to represent political influence and territorial reach. This level of abstraction is what separates a fluent speaker from a master.

◈ Stylistic Application: From Action to Concept

To achieve this, avoid the "Subject →\rightarrow Verb →\rightarrow Object" trap. Instead, aim for: [Abstract Noun] →\rightarrow [Linking Verb] →\rightarrow [Complex Noun Phrase].

  • Instead of: "They are trying to move from organizing in the streets to governing in offices."
  • C2 Version: "The current political landscape is defined by a systemic effort... to transition from grassroots organizing to formal executive and legislative governance."

Vocabulary Learning

institutional footprint (n.)
The extent of an organization's or movement's presence and influence within established systems of power or governance.
Example:The party sought to expand its institutional footprint by winning seats in the city council and the state legislature.
mayoralty (n.)
The office or term of office of a mayor.
Example:During her mayoralty, she implemented a series of sweeping reforms to the public transportation system.
cessation (n.)
The process of ending one activity or a state of affairs.
Example:The treaty called for an immediate cessation of hostilities between the two warring factions.
precipitate (v.)
To cause an event or situation, typically one that is bad or undesirable, to happen suddenly, unexpectedly, or prematurely.
Example:The sudden increase in interest rates may precipitate a financial crisis in the housing market.
reclamation (n.)
The act of claiming something back, especially property or territory that was previously lost or given up.
Example:The government's reclamation of the disputed territory led to a diplomatic standoff.
leveraging (v.)
Using an existing asset, position, or advantage to achieve a desired result or a greater outcome.
Example:The CEO is leveraging her industry connections to secure a partnership with the tech giant.
contention (n.)
A heated disagreement or a point asserted as a position in an argument.
Example:The exact cause of the accident remains a point of contention among the investigators.
gubernatorial (adj.)
Relating to a state governor or the office of a governor.
Example:The gubernatorial race is expected to be closely contested due to the state's swing-vote status.
Practice All words in a crossword→