by a comrade

This article is written by a DSA member and does not formally represent the views of MADSA as a whole or its subgroups. 

Welcome to Vol. 2 of the monthly round-up! The content in this publication overlaps significantly with our DSA newsletter and monthly General Membership Meetings. To sign up for the newsletter or check out an upcoming General Membership Meeting, visit: https://madison-dsa.org/events/

Socialists Run for Seats Locally and Across the Nation

Socialist candidates have been making headlines across the country for offering a hopeful alternative to establishment Democrats. Exciting recent campaigns have included mayoral candidates Zohran Mamdani in New York City and Omar Fateh in Minneapolis. Wisconsin’s State Assembly also has a Socialist Caucus with 4 members currently – one from Madison, two from Milwaukee, and one from Eau Clare. One of these members, Francesca Hong, has announced that she will be running for state Governor! Our DSA chapter hosted an exclusive members-only Town Hall with Francesca on September 29th to ask questions about her candidacy. MADSA has not yet formally endorsed Fran as a candidate, and will be taking steps to make this decision in the coming month.

Our chapter also recently formed an Electoral Working Group. The group has begun training members on canvassing skills for future efforts, in addition to ongoing work around strategy and messaging. MADSA’s Political Education group also hosted a topical event this past month, titled Beyond the Two-Party System: A Socialist Way Forward.

A Major Victory for Rights in Dane County Jail

The Abolitionist Working Group recently had a huge win after the Dane County Board of Supervisors voted to reject a highly unjust contract proposal, on September 18th, 2025. The working group had flagged concerns about the jail’s communication contract starting in 2024, when members realized that the contract would expire the following year, meaning that the county board would consider new contracts that could potentially erode incarcerated people’s basic rights. The group conducted intensive research about different options for jail communication processes and the local procedures for how these contracts are proposed, reviewed, and approved. As a result, they were able to mobilize in the summer of 2025 and discuss costs, benefits, and alternatives with the board, which led to the board’s recent rejection of the harmful contract.

The working group plans to publish an article with more details on their organizing effort, and you can learn more about the contract here in the meantime!

Tapping into International Solidarity in Madison

The genocide in Palestine continues to devastate, and people across the world continue to protest. It’s easy to feel powerless, helpless, or disconnected in the face of international horror. Yet, there continue to be tools of resistance for us even in Madison. One such option is the international BDS Movement (“Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions”), which has held fast for 20 years as a form of non-violent resistance against the Israeli state and its economy. To bolster this effort in our city, Madison DSA is proud to be joining a campaign called No Appetite for Apartheid. Members affiliated with this project will be working with local grocers with the goal of pulling Israeli products off the shelves. This will help increase the size, consistency, and impact of boycotts by implementing them on a structural level. 

Additionally on the theme of international solidarity, MADSA had the honor of hosting a visiting guest from Ireland at the most recent General Membership Meeting, who spoke on the history of The Troubles and how this connects to resistance movements. 

Further Organizing Highlights This Month

Our work continues in so many more ways thanks to our dedicated membership. Here are other key organizing efforts taking place this September in MADSA. This summary is not exhaustive! 

• Queer Liberation March – MADSA is hosting a fundraising event at The Crucible on October 12th for a future Queer Liberation March. More funds means more resources for safety, accessibility, political visibility, and – possibly – snacks.

• No Kings, No Bosses – members at the most recent meeting also approved a plan for MADSA to create a strong presence at an upcoming “No Kings” protest. Intermittent “No Kings” protests have taken place across the nation since Donald Trump came into office for his second term, but at times these protests have lacked a clear political vision. It’s important that people at protests develop an understanding of how to transform their energy and demands into ongoing political work. MADSA is hoping to conduct outreach and be a louder voice at these events to help channel the people’s power into a more organized movement. 

Social Opportunities

MADSA continues to offer casual social events to build our solidarity and community! These events have included recurring Coffee with Comrades, Coworking with Comrades, Crafting with Comrades, and Jogging with Comrades – now MADSA Run Club – on the weekends. Additionally, to celebrate the beginning of the coziest season, MADSA recently had an apple picking event. Half of the picked apples were donated to the food pantry at Goodman Community Center!

We also continue with book club / reading group offerings. V.I. Lenin’s What is to Be Done reading group concluded mid-September, and the next book to cover is Frantz Fanon’s Wretched of the Earth. Discussions are on Sundays at 11am, starting September 28th. The Abolitionist Working Group recently concluded their reading group on Alec Karakatsanis’ Copaganda, and there will be a discussion event with the author on October 7th at 6:30pm, at the Goodman Center Brassworks building.

Protest Song of the Month

My pick for this month is an upbeat tune – “Dump the Bosses off your back!” This protest folk song has been covered by many musicians over the years, and the particular selection linked here is by activist and lawyer Anne Feeney.

And that concludes our monthly round-up!