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DSA Comeback Kid: From Longshot to Statistical Tie - Backed by 1.2Mil Grassroots Funding

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 18, 2026

MEDIA CONTACT: Vanlyn Ramsay,  press@oliverforcongress.com, (305) 537-6026

TODAY’S FLORIDA PRIMARY HIGHLIGHTS DSA COMEBACK KID: FROM LONG SHOT TO STATISTICAL TIE, LARKIN ENTERS PRIMARY DAY BACKED BY A $1.2 MILLION GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT

23,000 Unique Small-Dollar Donors, 70 Endorsements, 584,901 Calls, and 42,000 Doors Power a Nationally Watched Challenge to Two-Term Congressman Jared Moskowit 

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Today, as the Florida Democratic Primary is underway, voters in Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade counties are casting ballots in the FL-25 race that’s a statistical tie based on recent polling from the Center for Strategic Politics conducted August 5. Polling shows Congressman Jared Moskowitz at  40 percent while his DSA challenger Oliver Larkin is at 38 percent, with 22 percent of voters undecided at the time of the survey.

Today’s Florida primary marks the culmination of  a long-shot challenge to an establishment Democrat, and the high-profile FL-25 race is grabbing national headlines and being called “DSA’s last stand” before November as the progressive and centrist wings of the Party continue to battle.

Larkin’s campaign is powered by $1.2 million in grassroots fundraising, volunteer organizing, 70 endorsements, and a series of viral media appearances.

Election Night Watch Party

Oliver for Congress will hold its primary-night watch party in Dania Beach beginning at 7 p.m. Members of the press who would like to attend or cover the event should contact Vanlyn Ramsay at (305) 537-6026 for location and access details.

Grassroots Fundraising and Field Program

The campaign’s final numbers include:

• $1.2 million raised from 23k unique small donors, without accepting corporate PAC or AIPAC money

• 42,000 doors knocked

• 584,901 calls made

70 Endorsements

The campaign received 70 endorsements from 22 elected officials, labor leaders, organizers, and other public figures, along with 48 unions and progressive organizations.

Key endorsements include the national Democratic Socialists of America (DSA); DSA-backed Congressional Democratic nominees Darializa Avila Chevalier (NY-13), Claire Valdez (NY-07), and Melat Kiros (CO-01); former Congressman Jamaal Bowman; Florida state Rep. and U.S. Senate candidate Angie Nixon; Association of Flight Attendants-CWA President Sara Nelson; former Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner; CWA Local 3100; IATSE Local 500; 1199 SEIU; SEIU CIR; SEIU Florida Public Services Union; Friends of the Earth Action; Dream Defenders; Florida Rising; Florida Immigrant Coalition Votes; Florida Young Democrats; and Jewish Voice for Peace Action.

National and Viral Media

Larkin’s message reached national audiences throughout the final weeks of the campaign:

• On Fox News, a viral exchange with Sean Hannity, highlighted Larkin’s commitment to a bold progressive platform

• On NewsNation and CNN’s Laura Coates Live, Larkin emphasized the need for real change in this election

• During another Fox News appearance, Larkin turned a question about immigration into a demand that Donald Trump release the complete Epstein files.

• On Newsmax, Larkin cited the Epstein Files Transparency Act when asked to name a Trump accomplishment. When the host credited Trump with bringing peace to the world, Larkin replied, “Not Iran.” The interview ended shortly afterward.

One of the campaign’s most widely shared exchanges came during Larkin’s interview with Florida TV journalist and WPLG Local 10 host Glenna Milberg. After Milberg called his description of Israel’s actions in Gaza “factually incorrect,” Larkin cited findings from the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry, Amnesty International, and Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem. The exchange has since gone viral.

“Chomp the Oligarchy” Rally

The campaign’s final weekend brought another test. After pressure from far-right activist Laura Loomer and Democratic state Rep. Michael Gottlieb prompted two venues to cancel the “Chomp the Oligarchy” get-out-the-vote rally, organizers from Gen-Z for Change, the Florida Youth Justice Coalition, Broward DSA, and Miami DSA secured a third location.

The event drew about 300 supporters and featured Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, state Rep. Angie Nixon, congressional candidate Elijah Manley, and Congressional  Democratic nominee Melat Kiros from Colorado.

“What we’ve seen in the last 36 hours is a mobilization campaign to try to intimidate and harass us with a campaign of Islamophobia,” Larkin told the crowd.

“A new generation of leadership is stepping forward,” he continued. “The Democratic Socialists of America are filling the leadership vacuum that the Democratic Party left for the working class, so we are going to do it our damn selves.”

Watch Larkin’s full remarks.

Grassroots Support Versus Outside Spending

Larkin’s grassroots model stands in sharp contrast to Moskowitz’s campaign. OpenSecrets data cited by WLRN shows that AIPAC-affiliated groups and donors alone contributed more than $660,000 to Moskowitz.

FEC filings also show that Think Big PAC spent $309,573.55 supporting Moskowitz, while New Democrat Majority spent another $250,000 on television advertising and production. Together, the two outside groups spent more than $559,000 supporting him.

“We built something powerful here,” Larkin said. “Thousands of working people chipped in, knocked doors, and made calls because they are done waiting for Washington to fight for them. Today, we are carrying that movement to the polls.”

About Oliver Larkin

Oliver Larkin is a Fort Lauderdale native and decade-long progressive organizer fighting for Medicare for All, a $25 minimum wage, the Green New Deal, universal child care, free public college, paid family and medical leave, abolishing ICE, and an end to the U.S.-funded genocide in Gaza. He rejects all corporate PAC money. Learn more about Oliver Larkin.