A radio studio broadcast photograph by Ray Roa showing Manny Ramirez at WMNF studios in Tampa, Florida on April 3, 2026. Captured in a close-up profile view, Manny Ramirez speaks into a black broadcast microphone with foam windscreen while wearing large black Audio-Technica over-ear headphones. He features short braided hair, a full dark beard, and a light blue denim shirt over a black t-shirt, set against blue soundproof acoustic wall panels and studio acoustic treatment tiles under bright interior lighting.Manny Ramirez at WMNF studios in Tampa, Florida on April 3, 2026. Credit: Ray Roa / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

The Tampa Democratic Socialists of America (TDSA) aren’t just knocking on doors this month.

After a morning canvassing session on Oct. 10 supporting Ashley Hermann’s run for the Florida House seat for District 69, the local chapter is heading to Ybor City kava bar Spookeasy for drinks before steering the crew to watch the city’s first professional women’s soccer team, Tampa Bay Sun, faces the Carolina Ascent FC at 6 p.m. 

The day after, TDSA’s will canvass for Hermann again then hold a general body meeting that’s open to the public discussing her campaign against incumbent Danny Alvarez. 

“We’re excited about Ashley’s campaign as she is currently the only DSA candidate in Florida who has received endorsement from our national organization in addition to her local chapter, Tampa DSA,” Tampa DSA Co-Chair Manny Ramirez told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “We have a busy month of events lined up leading to the election in November.”

The following weekend on Oct. 18, TDSA is doing a no cover geology tour at Lithia Springs Conservation Park led by a professional geologist a part of the Ecosocialists network of TDSA. 

The Democratic Socialists are having a moment nationally thanks to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who upset the political establishment last November. Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a DSA-backed candidate for one of Michigan’s U.S. Senate seats is currently leading in the polls against Republican Mike Rogers.

In Florida all eyes are on Florida State Rep. Angie Nixon, who joined DSA ahead of her new campaign for the U.S. Senate. Just last Sunday, Nixon, who will receive $23 million from Bernie Sanders’ war chest, was at the University of South Florida’s Tampa campus for a student town hall.

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This article appears in Oct. 01 – 07, 2026.

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