{"id":2635182,"date":"2026-07-25T07:14:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-25T11:14:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democratic-establishment-fights-back-against-socialists\/"},"modified":"2026-07-25T07:19:03","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T11:19:03","slug":"democratic-establishment-fights-back-against-socialists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democratic-establishment-fights-back-against-socialists\/","title":{"rendered":"Democratic establishment fights back against socialists"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">12<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdemocratic-establishment-fights-back-against-socialists%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2635182&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>the Democratic Party is beginning too push back against the influence of socialists within its ranks, a important advancement highlighted during this year&#8217;s primaries. While some party leaders actively endorse moderate candidates like Haley Stevens in Michigan and others consolidate support to defeat socialist contenders like Abdul el Sayed, the ideological shift remains strong. Notably, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Rep. Jim Clyburn have endorsed Stevens, emphasizing mainstream Democratic backing. Meanwhile, the Wisconsin gubernatorial race reflects an effort to prevent a Democratic socialist of America member from winning the nomination.<\/p>\n<p>The political landscape is also seeing notable primary setbacks for socialist candidates, such as Graham Platner\u2019s withdrawal from the Maine Senate race amid scandals and a collapsing poll lead, signaling a move away from socialist candidates in crucial states. Despite this, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/msnbc-host-reveals-which-republican-candidate-she-fears-the-most\/\" title=\"MSNBC host discloses her top ...ublican candidate concern.\">prominent left-wing figures<\/a> like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez remain committed to supporting progressive candidates like el Sayed, emphasizing the ongoing influence of the socialist wing.<\/p>\n<p>Polls indicate a rising favorable view of socialism among Democrats, with some viewing socialist ideas more positively than capitalism. The party faces a challenge to maintain its traditional stance amidst this shifting sentiment, and it remains uncertain whether the Democratic establishment can effectively resist this ideological surge in the current political climate.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Democratic establishment is finally fighting back against the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/daily-memo\/4661780\/year-of-the-dsa-democratic-politics\/\">socialist takeover of the party<\/a> that has been the biggest takeaway from <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2026-election\/\">this year\u2019s primaries<\/a> so far.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Time will tell whether this resistance is too little, too late.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4663234\/democratic-establishment-fights-back-against-socialists\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>The Democratic establishment fights back against the socialists<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4663052\/whitmer-backs-haley-stevens-michigan-senate-race\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Whitmer backs Haley Stevens in hotly contested Michigan Senate race<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4662113\/katz-graham-platner-reddit-tattoo-campaign-ezra-klein\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Platner\u2019s lead strategist says his Reddit posts and Nazi-linked tattoo \u2018should have been enough\u2019 to drop him<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democratic leaders are circling the wagons around Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4654999\/haley-stevens-michigan-senate-race-black-voters-abdul-el-sayed\/\">Haley Stevens<\/a> (D-MI) against her left-wing opponent, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/abdul-el-sayed\/\">Abdul el Sayed<\/a>, ahead of the August Michigan <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate\/\">Senate<\/a> primary.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gretchen-whitmer\/\">Gretchen Whitmer<\/a> (D-MI) is <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4663052\/whitmer-backs-haley-stevens-michigan-senate-race\/\">the latest to endorse<\/a> Stevens for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI). Peters is also backing Stevens and Whitmer beat el Sayed in the 2018 gubernatorial primary.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But 2018 was a lifetime away in Democratic politics.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s been an extraordinary shake-up in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/wisconsin\/\">Wisconsin<\/a> gubernatorial race as the Democratic establishment moves to prevent the nomination of state Rep. Francesca Hong, a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/daily-memo\/4652623\/what-dsa-wants\/\">Democratic Socialists of America member<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley is back in with Gov. Tony Evers\u2019s (D-WI) blessing, Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez is out, and the non-socialist vote may now consolidate behind the strongest candidate to beat Hong.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democratic state Sen. Mallory McMorrow similarly bowed out of the Michigan Senate race to give Stevens a clean shot at el Sayed, though the latter\u2019s camp has released internal polling showing more of a split among McMorrow voters.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A Democratic National Committee panel <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/4662067\/dnc-south-carolina-first-state-2028-election-primary-calendar\/\">voted to make South Carolina<\/a> the party\u2019s first 2028 presidential primary, just days after a poll showed Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/alexandria-ocasio-cortez\/\">Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez<\/a> (D-NY) leading in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-hampshire\/\">New Hampshire<\/a>. While Transportation Secretary <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pete-buttigieg\/\">Pete Buttigieg<\/a> was within the margin of error of Ocasio-Cortez, Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bernie-sanders\/\">Bernie Sanders<\/a> (I-VT) was drawing another 6% in the poll. Sanders, 84, would likely not run if the now 36-year-old AOC did, and she would presumably get most of his votes.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">South Carolina derailed Sanders\u2019s momentum in both the 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns. The majority black primary electorate there has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4661824\/black-democrats-bulwark-socialist-takeover\/\">rejected socialism in the past<\/a>, handing <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/hillary-clinton\/\">Hillary Clinton<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joe-biden\/\">Joe Biden<\/a> landslide wins. In Biden\u2019s case, South Carolinians rescued his seemingly moribund campaign.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rep.<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jim-clyburn\/\"> Jim Clyburn<\/a> (D-SC), the Democratic kingmaker who was instrumental in that Biden revival, is <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4651069\/jim-clyburn-backs-haley-stevens-michigan-senate\/\">endorsing Stevens<\/a> in Michigan and has ridiculed el Sayed for the lack of racial diversity at a recent rally in majority-black Detroit. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finally, Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ) easily defeated his DSA primary challenger, Kai Newkirk, 62.3% to 37.7% on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some of the momentum shift came as Graham Platner\u2019s Maine Senate campaign imploded. The poorly vetted Platner had a series of controversial Reddit posts, a Nazi tattoo he subsequently covered up, a sexting scandal while married, a reported history of mistreating his past girlfriends, and finally a rape allegation that proved too much for even his staunchest supporters to defend. Platner\u2019s top campaign strategist, Morris Katz, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/07\/24\/opinion\/ezra-klein-podcast-morris-katz.html?smid=tw-nytimes&#038;smtyp=cur\">conceded<\/a> to the <em>New York Times <\/em>on Friday that the pre-sexual assault issues probably should have been enough to disqualify him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the biggest scandal might have been that Platner looked increasingly likely to blow a winnable Senate race in a blue state in what is supposed to be a good year for Democrats. Platner\u2019s lead in a <em>RealClearPolitics<\/em> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearpolling.com\/polls\/senate\/general\/2026\/maine\/collins-vs-platner\">average of polls<\/a> had dwindled to just 0.7 points by the end of his campaign and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) was up 3 in the last Fox News poll of the race. Collins has a history of outperforming her poll numbers, such as when she consistently trailed six years ago but ended up winning reelection by nearly 9 points.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4652593\/graham-platner-socialists-2026-midterms\/\">Second thoughts about socialism<\/a> began to creep in elsewhere as Platner flailed and then withdrew, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4641761\/graham-platner-exit-speech-progressive-democrats\/\">all but accusing<\/a> the Democratic donor class of nullifying his primary victory as he exited the race.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nevertheless, Platner is virtually certain to be replaced by another Democrat from the Sanders wing of the party. Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME) wasn\u2019t able to run a viable primary campaign against him, received few votes in the primary, and generated little interest as a possible replacement candidate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the socialists aren\u2019t giving up without a fight. Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez, and other progressive leaders remain all in for el Sayed in Michigan. They are coming off big wins in New York, Colorado, and Washington, D.C. Their preferred candidate made the Los Angeles mayoral runoff over Spencer Pratt.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Socialist New York City Mayor <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/zohran-mamdani\/\">Zohran Mamdani<\/a> looks ascendant. Senate Minority Leader <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chuck-schumer\/\">Chuck Schumer<\/a> (D-NY) and House Minority Leader <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/hakeem-jeffries\/\">Hakeem Jeffries <\/a>(D-NY) do not. They are not in as strong a position to influence primary outcomes as Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mitch-mcconnell\/\">Mitch McConnell <\/a>(R-KY) was when he went up against the tea party as Senate Republican leader.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/daily-memo\/4661780\/year-of-the-dsa-democratic-politics\/\"><strong>IT\u2019S THE YEAR OF THE DSA IN DEMOCRATIC POLITICS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A national Fox News <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/fox-news-poll-voters-want-major-change-amid-economic-political-discontent\">poll<\/a> found that Democrats view socialism more favorably than capitalism and mostly approve of the DSA.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Can the Democrats\u2019 old guard hold the line in this climate? We\u2019ll soon see.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Democratic leaders push back against socialist influence in primaries<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2659,"featured_media":2635183,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26109781114712-e1784526997844.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[68344,36260,35802,37324,18609],"class_list":["post-2635182","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-democratic-establishment","tag-left-wing-politics","tag-party-politics","tag-political-conflict","tag-socialists"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26109781114712-e1784526997844.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2635182","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2659"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2635182"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2635182\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2635186,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2635182\/revisions\/2635186"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2635183"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2635182"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2635182"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2635182"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}