Influential Dem Doubles Down on Party’s Hard-Left Turn After Socialist Primary Sweeps

Tuesday’s primary elections indicated that the divide within the Democratic Party, between the moderate and the more socialist factions, is only growing ever deeper.

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) responded after three far left candidates — all backed by Democratic socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani — swept their individual races, making it clear that he too had chosen a side.

“Our message to the oligarchs: bring it on. After last nights decisive wins, have a new, strong, bold Democratic party,” Khanna said. 

Our message to the oligarchs: bring it on.

After last nights decisive wins, have a new, strong, bold Democratic party. pic.twitter.com/cGqpQozYcn

— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) June 24, 2026

“The reality is that our platform of a new deal is resonating, it’s a platform that says no to foreign wars, no to genocide, but it’s also a platform that says yes. Yes to medicare for all, yes to childcare for all, yes to unions for all, and yes to a tax on billionaires and trillionaires.” 

The three Mamdani-backed socialist candidates swept their congressional races on Tuesday, defeating two incumbent Democrats: Reps. Dan Goldman and Adriano Espaillat. Their challengers were viewed by many in the party as radical leftists. 

Democratic primary winners Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez actually belong to the Democratic Socialist party of America. The New York Times Editorial Board learned Chevalier could not name an instance in which she would support a man being imprisoned for murder. Chevalier claimed that when “we put people behind bars in incredibly traumatizing conditions in a context where they cannot actually reflect on the harm that they caused.” 

Along with abolishing prisons, Chevalier has advocated for abolishing police and national borders. Notably, she has said that “all deportations” — including those of immigrants convicted for murder, rape, and assault — should be banned, as imprisoning and deporting would be seen as “double jeopardy.” Valdez, who won New York’s 7th district, supports abolishing ICE, private healthcare, and strengthening unions. 

Khanna is not alone in his support for the “new, strong, bold Democratic party.” Senator Cory Booker voiced support for the new candidates saying, “One of the things that makes the Democratic party great is it’s a big tent party, we need to stay that way.” He added, “The focus has got to be the November election.” 

Members of the parties’ progressive left such as Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Ro Khanna did not recognize the anniversary but celebrated Tuesday’s election.

Alhamdulillah! I can’t imagine experiencing what she had to a still smiling as a first time candidate but respect her grace and resilience and I am very proud of her. We are very lucky to have a principled leader and someone who understands who it means to be a leader carrying… https://t.co/FpUI1tsr0v

— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) June 24, 2026

However, other establishment Democrats did not comment on Tuesday’s election, focusing their attention on the four-year anniversary of the overturning of Roe V. Wade. Former Vice President Kamala Harris, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and the Democrat’s page recognized the anniversary and did not make a comment on Tuesday’s election night. 

When the Court overturned Roe, one thought kept running through my mind: Women of this generation were about to lose rights that previous generations had fought to secure.

Four years later, we have seen exactly what that looks like — chaos, confusion, fear. Women denied care.…

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) June 24, 2026

Senator Bernie Sanders and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani highlighted both events.