We're organizing miners, ranchers, educators, and working families across southeastern Arizona for economic justice, labor solidarity, and democratic socialism.
The largest socialist organization in America, organizing for working people in rural Arizona
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is the largest socialist organization in the United States, with over 85,000 members nationwide. We're building a chapter right here in Graham County to bring working people together to fight for economic and social justice in Arizona's Legislative District 19. Source: DSA Official Website, 2025
We believe that working people—miners, educators, healthcare workers, ranchers, and service workers—should run both the economy and society democratically to meet human needs, not to make profits for a few. Through grassroots organizing, labor solidarity, and community action, we're fighting for a better future for all Arizonans.
Our movement has elected over 250 DSA members to public office since 2019, including the historic 2025 election of Zohran Mamdani as Mayor of New York City—the biggest electoral victory of the socialist movement in a generation. We're ready to bring that same energy and organizing power to southeastern Arizona's mining communities, rural towns, and working-class neighborhoods. Source: Democratic Left Magazine / DSA Electoral Victories Report, 2025
DSA Members Nationwide
DSA Official, 2025Socialists in Public Office
DSA Electoral Report, 2019-2025Socialist Presidential Campaign
DSA Platform, 20252028 General Strike
DSA Labor Priorities, 2025Our organizing territory spans five counties across rural southeastern Arizona
Legislative District 19 represents a critical challenge for democratic socialists: organizing in a rural, resource-extraction economy where workers shifted from union solidarity to conservative politics after corporate union-busting. But high poverty rates (17.7%), economic anxiety, and corporate dominance create opportunities for class-based organizing that puts working people first.
Analysis based on Census Bureau / BLS / Historical DataA democratic socialist future where working people control the economy and society
Universal healthcare is a human right. We're fighting to ensure every Graham County resident has access to quality healthcare without medical debt. No more choosing between rent and medicine in rural Arizona. Top DSA national priority since 2017.
DSA National Priorities, 2021-2025Rebuilding union power in Arizona's mines, ranches, and workplaces. Supporting rank-and-file organizing, fighting for living wages, and ensuring miners control the industry that built our communities. Union membership dropped from 8.8% (2007) to 3.7% (2024)—we're reversing that.
BLS Union Statistics, 2024 / DSA Labor PlatformClimate action that creates union jobs, not layoffs. We support a just transition for mining communities that protects workers, creates renewable energy jobs, and addresses Arizona's water crisis. Workers first, always.
DSA endorses Red Deal / Green New Deal PlatformAffordable housing for working families. Fighting against corporate landlords, supporting tenant unions, and demanding public housing options in company towns like Morenci where Freeport-McMoRan owns everything. 73.77% homeownership but median value $179,600 on $67k median income.
Census Bureau Housing Data, 2024Free college tuition at Eastern Arizona College and state universities. Canceling student debt. Fully funding K-12 schools in Safford, Clifton, and across rural Arizona. Only 8.12% of Graham County residents have bachelor's degrees.
Data USA Education Statistics, 2024Arizona's water belongs to the people, not corporations. Protecting water rights for small farmers and communities while challenging corporate control and mining industry water usage. Critical issue for Arizona's future.
Building working-class power in a conservative, resource-dependent region
Organizing in LD19 means confronting the realities of rural, conservative Arizona where economic dependence on mining has created political obstacles. But challenges are opportunities for strategic organizing.
LD19 is R+20-30, with overwhelming GOP voter registration. AIRC classifies district as "outside of competitive range." We must build working-class coalitions that transcend party labels and focus on economic justice.
Source: AIRC District Analysis, 2024Freeport-McMoRan dominates Greenlee County's economy (90% of GDP), owns company towns, and funds anti-union politics. The company paid $6.8M in DOJ environmental fines in 2012. We need strategies to organize in corporate-controlled spaces.
Sources: Mining Data / U.S. DOJ Settlement, 2012Greenlee went from Arizona's most Democratic county (1912-1996) to strongly Republican as unions declined. Historic 1983-1986 mine strike was crushed—National Guard deployed, workers decertified unions in 1984. Arizona union membership is now 3.7% (2024), down from 8.8% peak in 2007-2008. We must rebuild labor solidarity from the ground up.
Sources: BLS Union Statistics 2024 / Wikipedia - Morenci Strike HistoryDemocrats lost mining workers by being seen as anti-mining. We need a just transition message that prioritizes workers while addressing climate crisis. Green New Deal with union jobs for miners.
17.7% poverty rate (1.4x national average) despite massive copper profits shows wealth extraction, not sharing. Median income $67,326 is 10% below Arizona average. This is our organizing opportunity: economic populism that challenges corporate power.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau / Data USA, 2023Rural, spread-out population (230,476 across 5 counties, 96 precincts) makes organizing harder but not impossible. Digital tools, strategic hubs, and patient community building are essential.
Source: AIRC District Data, 2024We win by organizing around material conditions: wages, healthcare, housing, education. We support miners, ranchers, and workers while demanding they control the industries they build. We rebuild unions. We challenge corporate power. We put working people first. The data is on our side: high poverty, low union density, corporate extraction. Time to organize.
Strategic organizing for working-class power in District 19
Rebuilding worker power in mines, healthcare, education, and service industries through rank-and-file organizing and union solidarity. Target: Reverse the decline from 8.8% (2007) to 3.7% (2024) union membership.
BLS Union Data, 2024Running working-class candidates who aren't bought by corporations. Building independent political power from school boards to state legislature. DSA has elected 250+ socialists nationwide since 2019—we can do it in LD19.
DSA Electoral Report, 2025Fighting for Medicare for All and improving rural healthcare access across Graham and Greenlee counties. DSA's #1 national campaign since 2017.
DSA National Priorities, 2021Green New Deal that puts miners and workers first, creating union jobs in renewable energy while protecting communities. DSA endorses the Red Deal—workers first, always.
DSA Platform / Red Nation, 2019Challenging corporate landlords and fighting for affordable housing, especially in company towns where corporations own everything. Median home value $179,600 on $67,326 median income = housing crisis.
Census Bureau, 2024Free public education, student debt cancellation, and fully funding Arizona's rural schools and community colleges. Only 8.12% of Graham County residents have bachelor's degrees—we must fix this.
Data USA, 2024Join us in building working-class power in Graham County and Legislative District 19
Join 85,000+ democratic socialists nationwide. Dues start at $10/month and fund campaigns, mutual aid, and organizing work.
Join National DSAMonthly organizing meetings every third Saturday. Meet other socialists, plan campaigns, and build power together in LD19.
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Get ConnectedLearn socialist theory, organizing tactics, labor history (including the 1983-86 Morenci strike), and practical skills for building working-class movements.
Learn MoreDoor-knocking, phone banking, and grassroots outreach across 96 precincts and 230,476 residents. No experience necessary—we provide training and mentorship.
VolunteerOrganize your workplace, join a union drive, or support striking workers. Building power starts on the job. We're rebuilding the 3.7% union rate—join us.
Get SupportWhether you can give an hour a week or want to dive in full-time, there's a place for you in building working-class power in Graham County. The data shows we need this: 17.7% poverty, 3.7% union membership, corporate control. Let's get started.
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