democratic socialist isn't inherently interchangeable with social democracy. the DSA defines democratic socialism as explicitly at odds with capitalism, and aims to achieve socialism by going through and past social democracy (where european social democracy is plenty capitalist). Mamdani himself has actively disavowed capitalism.
> Capitalism is a system designed by the owning class to exploit the rest of us for their own profit. We must replace it with democratic socialism, a system where ordinary people have a real voice in our workplaces, neighborhoods, and society.
> We believe there are many avenues that feed into the democratic road to socialism. Our vision pushes further than historic social democracy and leaves behind authoritarian visions of socialism in the dustbin of history.
> [...] We want to win “radical” reforms like single-payer Medicare for All, defunding the police/refunding communities, the Green New Deal, and more as a transition to a freer, more just life.