The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has been awarded $5.2 million in an inheritance dispute, a significant financial boost for the organization that nearly doubles its typical annual revenue. The ruling came after a legal battle over the will of David Greenberg, a sociology professor at New York University.
Greenberg's will stipulated that the contents of his New York University retirement account should be transferred to the New American Movement, a defunct left-wing activist group, or its successor. The New American Movement merged with the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee in 1982 to form the DSA. Greenberg, who died in July 2024, had been involved in left-wing movements for much of his life, with his NYU obituary describing him as a "prominent figure in America's radical criminology movement."
Martin Hecht, Greenberg's nephew, contested the DSA's claim, arguing that the organization had not filed the proper paperwork to be recognized as the legal successor. He also contended that New York University had failed in its fiduciary duty. However, the presiding judge ultimately ruled in favor of the DSA, awarding the organization the multimillion-dollar sum. Hecht initiated his lawsuit in April 2025, and the case was decided on Monday. The $5.2 million award represents the majority of Greenberg's wealth, with an additional $1.3 million account transferred to his estate without dispute.
The influx of funds coincides with a period of electoral success for candidates affiliated with or backed by the DSA. Recent victories include Zohran Mamdani's election as New York City mayor in 2025 and primary wins in 2026 by candidates such as Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier, who defeated establishment-backed opponents in New York congressional primaries. Socialist candidates have also won primary races in Philadelphia, the District of Columbia, and Colorado.
These victories, some of which were against incumbent Democrats, have strengthened the DSA's presence within the Democratic Party, particularly in urban districts. The organization's spending typically supports advertisements for its endorsed candidates and funds local chapters and allied groups. The DSA also invests in community mobilization and messaging campaigns. In early July, the organization announced it had grown to over 120,000 members, claiming to be the largest socialist organization in U.S. history.