This year, New York City’s Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) chapter faced its first real bout of adversity after an astounding post-2016 resurgence. The democratic socialists chose to endorse six candidates for the City Council and only two will end up winning, a setback that’s already causing a bit of schadenfreude among the career Democrats who root against their success.

For socialists, the losses in the 2021 Democratic primaries sting because last year was such a success. In 2020, during the state legislative primaries, all four DSA-backed Democrats won, dethroning incumbents or establishment-backed candidates. DSA’s first state legislator, Julia Salazar, won reelection, and new political stars were minted. A fifth insurgent who ran without DSA’s backing joined their socialist caucus in Albany after winning.

Why did DSA come up short this year? And, more important, does it matter? Critics of DSA — many of them either members of the professional left or centrists who recoil at the idea of socialists taking office — are hoping this portends a coming decline for the organization. But any prolonged losing streak is unlikely. New York City’s chapter, arguably the national flagship, continues to add members and expertise. Many of the young organizers are now seasoned. Next year, with another state legislative cycle in the offering, could very well lead to the election of even more socialists.