General Discussion

When I asked about the DSA's identity, I asked if it was separate under the umbrella of the Democratic Party.

It is a legitimate question because it remains unclear whether the DSA identifies itself as a left wing within the party or considers itself a separate entity that needs to temporarily latch onto an existing party but only until it is strong enough to either be completely independent or to just remake the Dem party.

Sanders is both a DSA and an Independent. So he is not a Dem, but caucuses with Dems. He ran in the 2016 Dem presidential primaries, but identified himself as DSA.

The DSA has its own separate platform.

So the DSA does sound like a separate party that uses the structure and organization of the Dems to launch itself. If that's not the case, then maybe a spokesperson for the movement could clarify it for the general public because I know that I am not the only person who wants clarification.

Regarding Platner, the state party in Maine apparently allowed Platner to run as a Dem. The voters in Maine chose him. The party could choose another DSA In keeping with the voters' choice. If they choose an establishment Dem, they run the risk of losing all or most of Platner's followers.