For the Democratic Socialists of America’s (DSA) New York City chapter, one of the largest and most influential in the country, it’s easy to view the 2021 legislative cycle as a missed opportunity. Only two out of six city council candidates won their Democratic primaries, while other leftist candidates who went without DSA endorsements triumphed. The new city council next year, facing down a potentially reactionary Eric Adams administration, will be more left-wing than ever, but there will be no large socialist caucus.

DSA’s detractors, though, shouldn’t celebrate too much. Hakeem Jeffries may still be spiking the football over finally defeating a DSA candidate in his backyard, but socialists will be back next year in a spate of legislative primaries, looking to grow their power in Albany. There are currently two state senators and four assembly members who belong to DSA. Already they’ve had a remarkable influence, pushing otherwise moderate Democrats to support leftist legislation while raising the specter of more primary challenges.

These challenges are coming. Within DSA, there is a rather cutthroat but proper understanding of politics — the establishment won’t give you anything unless you force them to. Primaries, even against Democrats who seem acceptable on a host of issues, compel change in a legislative body that was, until a few years ago, overwhelmingly sclerotic. Democrats in Albany do not want to lose their lifetime sinecures in a world without term limits.