The Democratic Party's leftward lurch just picked up more speed, and the party's leadership seems content to pretend it's not happening.
As USA Journal reported, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries recently waved off the growing socialist wing of his party as though it were little more than a minor inconvenience. That casual dismissal is looking increasingly naive, because Democratic Socialists of America candidates keep racking up primary wins against entrenched Democratic incumbents.
The latest casualty is Rep. Diana DeGette of Colorado's 1st Congressional District. DeGette, 68, has held her seat since 1997, making her the longest-serving member of Colorado's congressional delegation. None of that mattered on Tuesday night. Decision Desk HQ called the race for Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old lawyer, former barista, and card-carrying DSA member backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders. With 78 percent of results reported, Kiros pulled off what may be the most significant primary upset of any incumbent House Democrat this midterm cycle.
This wasn't an isolated event, either. Just last week, two DSA candidates endorsed by the same Mamdani-backed network won their respective House primaries in New York. A pattern is forming, and it's not subtle.
Kiros brings more than socialist economic policy to the table. Her record of public statements has drawn sharp criticism. She described the October 7 Hamas massacre of Israeli civilians as "the inevitable consequence of apartheid." When pressed by journalist Kyle Clark about whether she applied the same logic to 9/11 and U.S. foreign policy, she declined to give a clear answer. She also refused to label a firebomb attack on Jewish residents in Boulder as antisemitic, insisting she could not say what "was in the heart" of the attacker, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, who burned an elderly Jewish woman to death at a pro-Israel rally.
Legal commentator Jonathan Turley highlighted the refusal, calling attention to the troubling implications. Others pointed out that Kiros's rhetoric about American foreign policy essentially mirrored justifications used by the Taliban for the September 11 attacks.
Her campaign also ran into a vulgar controversy when it reposted an ad from a progressive PAC that accused centrist Democrats of performing sexual acts on Israel, using explicit language. Kiros later called it a mistake, claiming the campaign "didn't catch the language" before sharing it and subsequently took it down.
On policy, Kiros is running on ending all U.S. aid to Israel, imposing an arms embargo, implementing Medicare for All, and dismantling ICE. She immigrated from Ethiopia as an infant and was reportedly fired from her corporate law position after publicly defending pro-Hamas protests and questioning Israel's right to exist in the aftermath of October 7.
She also drew criticism for celebrating the loss of defense contractor jobs in Colorado, prompting Republican operative Steve Guest to marvel at Democrats "cheering for elective job losses in their state." The irony of socialists championing employment for all while applauding layoffs at companies that literally defend the country was not lost on observers.
Colorado's 1st District leans heavily Democratic, so while Kiros will face Republican newcomer Christy Peterson in the general election this fall, the math strongly favors the socialist newcomer.
Perhaps the most telling moment came last Tuesday in New York City, where DSA members were spotted taunting Jeffries directly, suggesting he could be "next" on their list of establishment Democrats to challenge. If he seeks reelection in 2028, that threat could become very real.
The socialist playbook is straightforward: run in deep blue districts where a Democratic primary win is essentially a general election victory, appeal to grievance politics, and promise expansive government programs. It works in these environments, and there's no reason to think it will stop working anytime soon.
Whether this wave eventually crashes against the reality of swing districts and red America is another question entirely. But for now, the establishment wing of the Democratic Party has a serious internal problem, and Hakeem Jeffries pretending otherwise won't make it go away.
Read more conservative news commentary at: USA Journal News
