Elected Socialists: In Hostile Territory with Sean Orr

Blueprints of Disruption

Vancouver City Councillor Sean Orr, an avowed socialist elected in April 2025, dishes on what its been like navigating a system hostile to him and his ideas. Sean is very candid on the limitations and pressures facing principled progressives once they're in office.

The struggle for socialists to simply exist in elected positions is clear, as is his determination to keep building on that win six months ago. Councillor Orr has some advice for New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani on how to maintain the momentum of a campaign while building parallel power outside City Hall.

Hosted by: Jessa McLean

Related Episodes:

• Get more insight into Vancouver politics and organizing in Basis of Unity, a discussion with the Vancouver Tenants Union.
• Local Votes: Make Them Count (Aug 2022) Sam Hersh of Horizon Ottawa on the work being done to remove developer influence from local politics and more.

More Resources:

• CBC: Vancouver City Council Votes Against Supportive Housing
• The Independent: Mamdani Shreds Cuomo
• Referenced Piece: The Nation - Now Comes the Hard Party by Rosenblum
• COPE Vancouver Homepage
• SFU Geography Alumni Sean Orr wins Vancouver council seat in byelection - Department of Geography - Simon Fraser University

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