The People’s Republic of Astoria

Get Involved

The primaries are over. The movement isn’t. Here’s what happened — and where to plug in year-round.

The Infrastructure

Campaigns come and go. These are the groups that stay — packing bread, organizing tenants, building power block by block.

Political Organization
NYC-DSA — Queens Branch

Part of the largest socialist chapter in the country. Queens DSA is the branch behind AOC, Tiffany Cabán, Zohran Mamdani, and every campaign in this podcast. Monthly meetings, canvasses, and working groups.

Mutual Aid
Astoria Food Pantry

Built from scratch during the pandemic. Now handles food distributions, a free store, clothing donations, and a weekly bread rescue. A place to go if you need help or want to help.

Community Space
31st Ave Open Street

One of NYC’s most vibrant open street programs — live music, community cookouts, neighborhood markets, and the beating heart of the People’s Republic. Entirely volunteer-driven.

Tenants Rights
Astoria Tenants Union

Renters organizing renters. ATU helps tenants form associations, fight unsafe conditions, and resist displacement — building by building, block by block.

Free Food
Tikkun BBQ

A free barbecue pop-up that started on a balcony during the pandemic. They’ve raised more than $100K for Astoria organizations through community cookouts. Free food, live music, neighbors in the street.

Political Organization
DRUM & DRUM BEATS

Electoral organizations mobilizing South Asian Americans in Queens and beyond. DRUM (Desis Rising Up & Moving) and DRUM BEATS helped Zohran win in 2025.

The Slate Won.

Every DSA-endorsed candidate on this page won their primary. All of them came from the same grassroots movement that elected AOC and Zohran. The general election is in November.

Queens · State Legislature
State Assembly · AD-36
Diana Moreno Won
Astoria & Long Island City

Labor organizer, working mom, immigrant from Ecuador. Won Zohran’s former seat in a special election in February — then won the full-term primary in June.

State Senate · SD-12
Aber Kawas Won
Astoria, LIC, Sunnyside, Woodside & Maspeth

Palestinian American community organizer. Won by 20 points over Assemblymember Steven Raga to succeed retiring Senator Michael Gianaris.

State Assembly · AD-37
Samantha Kattan Won
LIC, Sunnyside, Ridgewood, Maspeth & Woodside

Tenant organizer and working parent. Won the three-way primary to succeed Claire Valdez in AD-37.

State Assembly · AD-38
David Orkin Won
Ridgewood, Glendale, Woodhaven, Richmond Hill & Ozone Park

Workers’ rights attorney. Defeated incumbent Jenifer Rajkumar by 18 points — one of the night’s biggest upsets.

Going National · U.S. Congress