I won't bore you with all the details, but yes. The details are currently what's being worked on, but there is a consensus among DSA leaders outside of the "right" caucuses that DSA needs to begin experimenting with operating as a fully independent political party where possible. I could write a longer post if you're interested, but it would be mostly internal politics stuff.
You are correct. I'm definitely speaking to my personal ambitions lol. DSA is in a stage where they're trying to figure out what a successful socialist party in America looks like.
NYC-DSA has seen a massive increase in members during his campaign. His campaign has created more socialists that have joined a political party. For socialists in the current environment, I think that's one of the best outcomes of electoralism.
Many of my own comrades disagree with me on this, but from my experience and talking with others, I see the primary utility in socialists running for office to be gaining membership and increasing organizational capacity. Regardless of whether you win, you always gain new members from the campaign. And hey, if you keep it up you'll eventually have the muscle to actually win.
In my experience it's the more polite thing people to my right on international issues call me irl instead of just calling me a tankie or something.