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WASHINGTON — They’re not done making their marx on the Democratic Party.
Fresh off a recent string of key upset victories, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is eyeing more potential breakthrough wins in Missouri, Michigan, Wisconsin, and possibly Florida over the next few weeks as it works to drag Democrats further to the left.
Thus far, the DSA has touted four breakthrough victories in House races, including Melat Kiros in Colorado, Chris Rabb in Pennsylvania, Darializa Avila Chevalier in New York, and Claire Valdez in New York. Additionally, they backed incumbent Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).
“We are so cooked,” one House Democratic staffer bluntly told The Post about the trend. “[Hakeem] Jeffries will have to start calling members ‘comrade’ during caucus meetings come January.”
There are at least nine more House races on the DSA’s target list.
Perhaps the most closely watched upcoming race is in Missouri, where former Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) is seeking a comeback after her stinging 2024 loss to Rep. Wesley Bell (D-Mo.).
Two years ago, she faced fierce blowback over her anti-Israel stance, but now the politics of that issue has seemingly shifted within the Democratic Party. Sparse polling has shown them neck and neck in the race.
Bush has been backed by lefty bigwigs such as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) The race will be a real test of how much the politics around Israel has really changed within the Democratic Party.
Also in Missouri, the DSA is hoping Hartzell Gray will get the Dem nod to take on Rep. Mark Alford (R-Mo.) in a race where Republicans are widely favored.
The Missouri primary will take place on Aug. 4, the same day as other contests in Michigan, where the DSA is backing “Squad” Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Donavan McKinney, and Kyle Blomquist.
McKinney, a Michigan state rep, is hoping to take down Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.), whom he’s ripped as “Detroit’s own Elon Musk” in the state’s 13th Congressional District. Last year, Thanedar pushed to impeach President Trump as he grappled with primary challenges.
Similar to Colorado’s Denver-based race, where Kiros took down longtime incumbent Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Col.), Thanedar is in a very deep blue district.
Meanwhile, Blomquist is vying to win the Democratic primary to take on Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.), whose seat the Cook Political Report rates as solid Republican. The vast district includes the Upper Peninsula and northern Michigan.
On Aug. 11, the DSA is hoping Katrina DeVille will get the Dem nod to take on Rep. Tony Wied (R-Wis.), and Emily Berge will get the nomination to challenge Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) Only Van Orden’s seat is competitive in November.
After that, the DSA is rooting for Oliver Larkin to take down Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) on Aug. 18 and Heath Howard could nab the seat being vacated by Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH).
Republicans have long sought to pick up that New Hampshire 1st Congressional District seat. If the DSA prevails there, it could be a significant test of the far-left’s appeal in competitive general election races.
Beyond the DSA, other lefty Dems have mounted successful primary challenges to knock off incumbents or established politicians they view as too old for office or not enough of a fighter.
This includes Graham Platner’s defeat of Maine Gov. Janet Mills in the Senate primary last month. In Massachusetts, Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) is challenging incumbent Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.)
In Michigan, progressive Dr. Abdul El-Sayed has the lead in a three-way race against comparatively more moderate candidates and enjoys the backing of Ocasio-Cortez.
Overall, there have been five high-profile House incumbent losses for Democrats in primaries so far, including those from progressives who weren’t backed by the DSA.
Those victories could create headaches for Democratic leadership in Congress next year should the party recapture the House.
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