Democratic socialists have been achieving significant victories in primary elections, prompting some within the Democratic Party to push back. They argue that capitalism has proven to be more effective in reducing poverty than any other system, and they are committed to reclaiming the party from the left’s influence.
“There are many who are concerned about the direction of the DSA. It feels like no one is really organizing against it,” said Long Island Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.). He expressed frustration that while Democratic Socialists keep winning, their opponents are, well, “just going to cocktail parties and wringing their hands.”
His worries were underscored by yet another victory from a DSA-supported candidate, who managed to defeat Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), a long-serving member of Congress.
“We advocate for capitalism, not socialism. It has brought more people out of poverty than any other system throughout history,” Suozzi explained. He added that while capitalism has led to better outcomes, that doesn’t mean they are solely in favor of maintaining the status quo.
DeGette lost to Merat Quiros, a 29-year-old DSA member backed by the popular left-wing figure, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Following last week’s primary, Quiros made headlines by accusing Israel of “genocide” in Gaza and reiterated his belief that the 9/11 attacks were “inevitable.”
Quiros isn’t an isolated figure in this movement.
“Democrats need to return to the core values of looking out for working people and enhancing their lives,” Suozzi urged.
Along with Rep. Adam Gray (D-Calif.), he initiated the “Promise to America” pledge, stating, “We want security, not lawlessness…We stand proud of America, not ashamed.”
While on his way to the new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in North Dakota, Suozzi mentioned that he was visiting independently, not as part of President Trump’s prior visit. He humorously remarked, “I couldn’t hitchhike on Air Force One,” following comments by Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) about a so-called “socialist orgy” in the party.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), a prominent figure among democratic socialists, recently surprised many by endorsing Michigan’s leftist Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. El-Sayed is challenging Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer’s pick of Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.), and a loss for him could spell trouble for Democrats aiming to regain the Senate.
Suozzi and his allies may face challenges ahead. A Gallup poll from last September revealed only 54 percent of Americans approved of capitalism, which was a decline from 61 percent in 2010. An alarming poll from last week indicated that about one-third of Democrats are in favor of a democratic socialist taking office.
Even former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) expressed doubts about capitalism in 2021, stating, “In America, capitalism is our system, but it’s not functioning as it should,” suggesting the need for improvement rather than abandoning it altogether.
After socialist candidates experienced sweeping wins in three congressional races in New York five years ago, she remained unfazed in a conversation with the Post. “I wouldn’t overemphasize it. A leftist win in San Francisco doesn’t mean there’s a national crisis… I liked the incumbent. I wish they had been victorious. But it’s more about what it means for New York than for the country as a whole,” she noted.
When the U.S. payroll saw an increase of 850,000 jobs in 2021 during the recovery from COVID-19, then-President Biden proclaimed, “Capitalism is alive and well; it appears to be functioning quite effectively.”
Recent reports mentioned that Vice President Kamala Harris, who has been working to recover from a tough debate season for Biden’s 2024 campaign, is reaching out to socialists. She has contacted Mayor Mamdani and met with Ocasio-Cortez at an empowerment event in Chicago.
This has been speculated to indicate her own presidential ambitions.
Two years ago, during her previous run for the White House, she identified herself as a “capitalist.” “I aim to be realistic in my approach,” she stated at the time.
