NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
The latest wave of socialist victories in the Democratic primaries in New York and elsewhere should be a wake-up call for Americans across the country. For years, many people dismissed socialism as a fringe movement within the Democratic Party. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case.
The victories of self-described New York socialists Brad Lander, Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez are the latest evidence that the socialist movement is no longer a fringe faction operating outside the Democratic Party. Socialists are increasingly setting the direction of the Democratic Party, and many voters in progressive parts of the country are willing to accept it. That should worry all Americans.
All three candidates were backed by fellow socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose rise has transformed him from a local elected official to a political kingmaker. The results surprised Democratic leaders. According to Axios, some House Democrats described the result as an “earthquake” and a “huge defeat” for the party leadership. Even moderate Democrats will admit that they are no longer in control of their party; Socialists do.
DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS ARE NO LONGER ON THE SIDELINES
The importance of these victories goes beyond New York. Mamdani’s candidates did not defeat the Republicans. They defeated incumbent Democrats and establishment-backed candidates in districts where primaries effectively decide elections. The result will likely add more socialists to Congress and push the Democratic Party further to the far left and further away from the mainstream of American politics.
Rising far-left New York Democrats Darializa Avila Chevalier, Claire Valdez and Brad Lander are redefining their party. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images; Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Voters should not only care about the label but even more about the policies that accompany it.
The policies advocated by today’s socialist movement would affect the way Americans work, start businesses, save money, and pursue economic opportunities. They would fundamentally and permanently change the American free enterprise system that has made our country the strongest and most prosperous in the world. As a former small business owner, I find this especially alarming. We don’t help businesses by making government bigger, we help them by getting out of the way.
SOCIALISTS LAUNCH RADICAL PLATFORM TO ABOLISH THE US SENATE IN AN ATTEMPT TO FUNDAMENTALLY TRANSFORM THE UNITED STATES
For example, Lander has supported policies that would sharply restrict independent contracting, limiting opportunities for millions of Americans who value the flexibility and freedom that comes with independent and gig work. Avila Chevalier has advocated for eliminating right-to-work protections and allowing unions to collect dues directly from employees’ paychecks, even employees who choose not to join a union. Valdez has called for using the full weight of the federal government to expand union power and push workers to join the union, regardless of whether they want to join.
This alarming trend extends far beyond New York. Seattle voters recently elected Katie Wilson, another socialist candidate aligned with many of the same ideological priorities. Across the country, activists are creating organizations, recruiting candidates, and gradually expanding their influence within Democratic politics.
Now we’re seeing the trend reach far beyond deep blue cities. In my home state of Wisconsin, a prominent gubernatorial candidate, Francesca Hong, proudly identifies as a socialist. His candidacy demonstrates that ideas once confined to a handful of urban districts are now being promoted to voters in battleground states that will help determine the nation’s future. That’s why it’s so important that we elect Tom Tiffany as governor of Wisconsin in November and stop someone like Hong from bringing socialism to our doors.
CLICK HERE TO REVIEW MORE FROM FOX NEWS
For years, many Americans assumed that socialism could only gain ground in a few areas like New York City or San Francisco. Recent elections suggest otherwise. The movement is producing candidates, winning primaries and replacing establishment Democrats with candidates who embrace a much broader role for government in the economy.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
I know that voters in my district and across Wisconsin do not want to follow the same dangerous path we have seen in many coastal cities, and we must do everything we can to prevent that from happening here. If we don’t put an end to this radical leftist ideology now, it will come to our neighborhoods later.
Americans who value economic opportunity, more options for American workers, and free enterprise should pay attention. What happened in New York was not an isolated event. It was another sign that socialism is becoming the direction that will define the future of the Democratic Party.