Resolution to Provide Additional Guidance on How Endorsed Candidates May Affiliate with Democratic/Republican Candidates During Fundraising Events and Campaign Activities

Passed by membership: Aug 27, 2026

Whereas:

  • RI DSA maintains it is vital that its endorsed political candidates adhere to bylaws, resolutions, and guidance as democratically decided by the chapter general body.

  • Article X of the bylaws already defines the following guidance regarding endorsed candidates’ relationships with other candidates:

    • “Refrain from endorsing any other political candidates without the permission of Rhode Island DSA’s membership.”

    • “Refrain from caucusing with Democrats or Republicans, or voting for either party’s leadership in legislative bodies.”

  • The question of whether endorsed candidates can affiliate with other candidates during campaign fundraising events has come up during an ongoing endorsed electoral campaign and chapter membership has found the chapter bylaws do not provide clear enough guidance to answer it.

  • During a recent chapter meeting, membership has expressed a strong desire to define additional guidance around affiliating with other candidates during campaign fundraising events and campaign activities.

Be it resolved:

  • Rhode Island DSA reaffirms our commitment to class independence, and we fight for mass action by the working class as the path to both reform and revolution. This will sometimes involve pressuring or working alongside politicians from the capitalist parties to achieve certain goals, but our chapter does not give political support to Democratic or Republican politicians.

  • Per bylaws, Rhode Island DSA’s membership may grant permission for the chapter’s endorsed candidates to endorse other political campaigns. Without such permission, candidates will follow the same guidelines as Rhode Island DSA when relating to non-endorsed campaigns: they will not offer support or host joint campaign events. Support includes promoting campaign events on social media, canvassing, fundraising, and other assistance in campaign activities.

  • Endorsed candidates may join other candidates at campaign fundraising events and campaign activities hosted by the national DSA, i.e. promoted as a national DSA event and not focused on any particular candidate or politician.

  • Endorsed candidates may also join other candidates at campaign-related events hosted by an endorsing organization, such as a union, when such events are not focused on any particular candidate or politician.

  • Endorsed candidates may also join other candidates at issue-based events related to the campaigns or priorities of Rhode Island DSA. Issue-based events are defined as events focused on an issue, policy, or movement, and does not dedicate any significant time towards directly promoting or fundraising for a candidate, politician, or political party. Candidates should consult Rhode Island DSA’s membership before joining any formal issue-based campaign or coalition.

  • Rhode Island DSA will continue our current strategy of building a united front of workers and workers’/socialist organizations. We will focus on expanding this bottom-up coalition rather than orienting toward any Democratic or Republican politicians in order to achieve our goals. As a step toward strengthening our united front, we encourage allied revolutionary socialists who have supported the Brittany for RI campaign to join the volunteer campaign team.