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A democratic socialist heads to Brooklyn for campaign funds — for a Rhode Island race

Published Jul 9, 2026 at 6:31 a.m. ET

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Courtesy of David Morales campaign

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When democratic socialist candidates need campaign cash, they bring their tin cups to the Big Apple just like any other politicians.

David Morales, a progressive candidate for mayor in Providence, Rhode Island, will hold a fundraiser Thursday night at Rodeo Bar in Crown Heights, where more than 100 people are expected to help him rake in thousands for his insurgent campaign. Morales is challenging incumbent Democratic Mayor Brett Smiley with a pledge to bring rent control to Providence.

The event is the latest example of how New York City is at the heart of the growing national democratic socialist movement.

“New York City has the best organized, most effective, most successful socialist organization and socialist scene in the country,” said the event’s main host, Dan Denvir, cochair of Reclaim Rhode Island, a left-wing political and housing justice organization. “So it's a natural place to go and ask for support for what we're trying to do in the city of Providence.”

Locally, Denvir is better known as host of “The Dig,” a popular left-wing podcast focused on politics, history and economics affiliated with the socialist magazine Jacobin, which is based in New York City.

To get the word out about the event, Denvir assembled 22 high-profile co-hosts including leftist organizers, writers, artists, NYC-DSA co-chairs Gustavo Gordillo and Grace Mausser, and key players from Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral campaign team. State Sen. Julia Salazar and Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, who are both DSA members, are expected to attend.

“The local level has the most direct impact on people’s daily life,” Gallagher said.

“I think that’s why we’re so passionate about spreading laterally and collecting more folks to be on the team.”

Morales, 27, has represented the city of Providence in Rhode Island's state Legislature for six years. Like Mamdani, Morales’ campaign has zeroed in on fighting the affordability crisis with a focus on Providence renters who make up 60% of households, according to census data .

The real estate brokerage firm Redfin ranked Providence the least affordable city for renters in the nation last year, outpacing New York, Los Angeles and Boston, when it comes to the share of income required to pay rent.

In April, the Providence City Council adopted a rent control ordinance that would have limited rent increases to 4% for most apartments. Smiley, 47, vetoed the measure , writing in a letter to the Council that this policy was not a lasting solution for the city and has been shown to drive up the cost of rents in other municipalities.

Morales’ fundraiser at the trendy Crown Heights bar comes as he trails his opponent in campaign cash. As of May, GoLocalProv reported Smiley had $1.3 million in campaign cash, with support from major real estate developers. Morales had just $119,000 but was reportedly outpacing Smiley on individual donors by four-to-one.

A spokesperson for Smiley did not respond to a request for comment.

Morales is far from the only socialist candidate from across the country to come to New York City to fundraise. Washington D.C. City Council candidate Aparna Raj and Florida congressional candidate Oliver Larkin both held fundraisers in the city with support from NYC-DSA.

Designer and filmmaker Alexis Bittar played a prominent role in fundraising for Mamdani, and he has hosted several high-profile fundraisers for progressive candidates from outside the city at his home in Brooklyn Heights.

He raised money for Democratic U.S. Senate candidates James Talarico of Texas and Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan.

He also held a high-profile fundraiser for Graham Platner of Maine, whose campaign is on the brink after a recent report accused him of sexual assault. Bittar said he is “saddened” and “disappointed” by the Platner saga.

Morales launched his campaign shortly after Mamdani won the Democratic primary last year. Ben Shanahan, a senior adviser to the Morales campaign, said people around the country are liking what they see from Mamdani.

“People in Providence take inspiration from Mayor Mamdani and from New York City DSA’s project,” Shanahan said. “I get the sense that people in New York City are really excited to have the opportunity to support this movement as it continues to grow around the country.”

Brigid Bergin is an award-winning senior reporter on the People and Power desk. She is fiercely committed to telling stories that help people engage and support democracy. In 2022, she hosted a live, ten-week call-in politics show ahead of the midterm elections called The People's Guide to Power. Brigid's reporting in 2017 included some of the first coverage of a political newcomer now known as AOC. In 2016, she broke the news of a voter purge in Brooklyn just days before New York’s presidential primary, triggering city, state and federal investigations. Brigid also guest hosts The Brian Lehrer Show and All Of It. She graduated from the University at Albany and the CUNY Newmark School of Journalism. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or Signal 917-723-4719.

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