When socialists win primaries in Brooklyn, the rest of the country often rolls its eyes and asks, reasonably, “But can they win in red states?” Earlier this month, Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) activists in Memphis, Tennessee, showed that they could when all three candidates endorsed by Memphis-Midsouth DSA won their primaries. Says chapter co-chair Michaelantonio Jones, “We’re on the cusp of something incredibly big.”

DSA member and cancer researcher Gabby Salinas won her primary for the Tennessee State House of representatives. Born in Bolivia, she will be the first immigrant ever to represent her district (97). In District 90 — also for the Tennessee House — progressive public education defender Torrey Harris won his primary and will face an incumbent, John DeBerry, a fan of vouchers and other school privatization schemes, who was recently removed from the Democratic ballot because he votes so often with Republicans.

More ambitiously, the chapter has also taken on a Senate race. In the contest to succeed Lamar Alexander, who is retiring, environmental justice activist Marquita Bradshaw’s primary opponents outspent her $250 to $1. Bradshaw won anyway. Her statewide election in November creates an opportunity for DSA to “build power” statewide, whether she wins or not, says Jones.