Topzle Topzle

Socialist Alternative (United States)

Updated: Wikipedia source

Socialist Alternative (United States)

Socialist Alternative (SAlt or SA) is a Trotskyist political party in the United States. SAlt formed as Labor Militant in 1986, when members of the Committee for a Workers' International created a US branch. SAlt describes itself as a revolutionary socialist party fighting for a democratic socialist economy, because it argues that capitalism is fundamentally incapable of serving the interests of the majority of people. SAlt's highest-profile public representative was former Seattle City Councillor Kshama Sawant, who left the party and created her own, Revolutionary Workers, in 2024.

Infobox

Abbreviation
SAlt or SA
Founded
April 1986 (1986-04) (as Labor Militant)
Headquarters
New York City, New York
Newspaper
Socialist Alternative
Membership
≈1,000 (2020)
Ideology
Marxism Revolutionary socialism Democratic socialism Trotskyism
Political position
Far-left
International affiliation
International Socialist Alternative
Colors
Red
Slogan
"Struggle, Solidarity, Socialism"
Members in elected offices
0

Tables

· Election results › State legislature elections
2014
2014
Year
2014
Candidate
Jessica Spear
Office
State Representative
Area
Washington
District
43-2
Votes
8,606
%
17 %
Result
Lost
Notes
ran as Socialist Alternative candidate
2012
2012
Year
2012
Candidate
Kshama Sawant
Office
State Representative
Area
Washington
District
43-2
Votes
20,425
%
29 %
Result
Lost
Notes
ran as Socialist Alternative candidate
Year
Candidate
Office
Area
District
Votes
%
Result
Notes
Ref
2014
Jessica Spear
State Representative
Washington
43-2
8,606
17 %
Lost
ran as Socialist Alternative candidate
2012
Kshama Sawant
State Representative
Washington
43-2
20,425
29 %
Lost
ran as Socialist Alternative candidate
· Election results › Local elections
2021
2021
Year
2021
Candidate
Kshama Sawant
Office
City Council
Area
Seattle
District
3
Votes
20,656
%
50 %
Result
Won
Notes
non-partisan recall election, joined Democratic Socialists of America in February
2019
2019
Year
2019
Candidate
Kshama Sawant
Office
City Council
Area
Seattle
District
3
Votes
22,263
%
52 %
Result
Won
Notes
non-partisan election
2017
2017
Year
2017
Candidate
Ginger Jentzen
Office
City Council
Area
Minneapolis
District
3
Votes
3,844
%
44 %
Result
Lost
Notes
ran as Socialist Alternative candidate, ranked choice election
2015
2015
Year
2015
Candidate
Kshama Sawant
Office
City Council
Area
Seattle
District
3
Votes
17,170
%
56 %
Result
Won
Notes
non-partisan election
2013
2013
Year
2013
Candidate
Kshama Sawant
Office
City Council
Area
Seattle
District
2
Votes
93,682
%
50 %
Result
Won
Notes
non-partisan election
2013
2013
Year
2013
Candidate
Seamus Whelan
Office
City Council
Area
Boston
District
At-Large
Votes
3,118
%
2 %
Result
Lost
Notes
non-partisan, plurality at-large election
2013
2013
Year
2013
Candidate
Ty Moore
Office
City Council
Area
Minneapolis
District
9
Votes
1,758
%
46 %
Result
Lost
Notes
ran as Green Party candidate, ranked choice election
2007
2007
Year
2007
Candidate
Matt Geary
Office
City Council
Area
Boston
District
At-Large
Votes
3,025
%
6 %
Result
Lost
Notes
non-partisan, plurality at-large election
Year
Candidate
Office
Area
District
Votes
%
Result
Notes
Ref
2021
Kshama Sawant
City Council
Seattle
3
20,656
50 %
Won
non-partisan recall election, joined Democratic Socialists of America in February
2019
Kshama Sawant
City Council
Seattle
3
22,263
52 %
Won
non-partisan election
2017
Ginger Jentzen
City Council
Minneapolis
3
3,844
44 %
Lost
ran as Socialist Alternative candidate, ranked choice election
2015
Kshama Sawant
City Council
Seattle
3
17,170
56 %
Won
non-partisan election
2013
Kshama Sawant
City Council
Seattle
2
93,682
50 %
Won
non-partisan election
2013
Seamus Whelan
City Council
Boston
At-Large
3,118
2 %
Lost
non-partisan, plurality at-large election
2013
Ty Moore
City Council
Minneapolis
9
1,758
46 %
Lost
ran as Green Party candidate, ranked choice election
2007
Matt Geary
City Council
Boston
At-Large
3,025
6 %
Lost
non-partisan, plurality at-large election
· National conventions
2025 National Convention
2025 National Convention
Name
2025 National Convention
Date
November 2025
Location
Maryland
Attendees
"more than 250 socialists" from 18 cities
Reports
US Perspectives 2025
2023 National Convention
2023 National Convention
Name
2023 National Convention
Date
October 2023
Location
Chicago, IL
Reports
US Perspectives 2024
2021 National Convention
2021 National Convention
Name
2021 National Convention
Date
September 2021
Reports
US Perspectives 2021
2018 National Convention
2018 National Convention
Name
2018 National Convention
Date
October 20–22, 2018
Location
Chicago, IL
Attendees
"over 300 socialists", "biggest ever"
Reports
US Perspectives 2018
2016 National Convention
2016 National Convention
#
12th
Name
2016 National Convention
Date
June 11–13, 2016
Location
Denver, CO
Attendees
"over 220 members" from "33 branches and 20 cities"
Reports
US Perspectives 2016 US Perspectives 2017
2014 National Assembly
2014 National Assembly
Name
2014 National Assembly
Date
April 27, 2014
Location
Seattle, WA
Attendees
members from 25 cities
2012 National Conference
2012 National Conference
Name
2012 National Conference
Date
May 26–28, 2012
Location
Minneapolis, MN
Attendees
"over 75" attendees, 31 "elected delegates"
2009 National Conference
2009 National Conference
Name
2009 National Conference
Date
May 22-24, 2009
Location
Seattle, WA
Attendees
"over 70" attendees, "33 elected delegates", from 10 cities
2007 National Conference
2007 National Conference
#
10th
Name
2007 National Conference
Date
May 2007
Location
Minneapolis, MN
Attendees
"over 70" members
#
Name
Date
Location
Attendees
Notes
Reports
2025 National Convention
November 2025
Maryland
"more than 250 socialists" from 18 cities
US Perspectives 2025
2023 National Convention
October 2023
Chicago, IL
US Perspectives 2024
2021 National Convention
September 2021
US Perspectives 2021
2018 National Convention
October 20–22, 2018
Chicago, IL
"over 300 socialists", "biggest ever"
US Perspectives 2018
12th
2016 National Convention
June 11–13, 2016
Denver, CO
"over 220 members" from "33 branches and 20 cities"
US Perspectives 2016 US Perspectives 2017
2014 National Assembly
April 27, 2014
Seattle, WA
members from 25 cities
2012 National Conference
May 26–28, 2012
Minneapolis, MN
"over 75" attendees, 31 "elected delegates"
2009 National Conference
May 22-24, 2009
Seattle, WA
"over 70" attendees, "33 elected delegates", from 10 cities
10th
2007 National Conference
May 2007
Minneapolis, MN
"over 70" members
Image
Source: —
Tip: Wheel or +/− to zoom, drag to pan, Esc to close.