Municipal socialism appears to be having a moment in the United States right now. Democratic socialist state assemblymember Zohran Mamdani is poised to become New York City’s next mayor, and in Minneapolis another young socialist legislator, Omar Fateh, appears to be gaining ground in his own mayoral campaign. And insurgent candidates associated with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) have been slowly expanding their footprint in local government across the country for years.

Jakes Ephros, the DSA-backed candidate for city council in Jersey City, New Jersey, is hoping to add to this groundswell. Ephros, a teacher and tenant organizer, is running to represent Ward D on the Jersey City Council. His campaign is championing universal rent control, greater investment in public transit, and universal childcare. Jacobin’s Sara Wexler recently sat down with Ephros to discuss his campaign.