Maryland Democrats rejected the idea that New York\u2019s socialist surge in primary victories signals a broader Democratic divide, insisting the races are a reflection of individual districts rather than a national shift as the party looks ahead to the midterm elections.
\n\u201cWe have a big tent party, that\u2019s what it says,\u201d Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said when asked what New York\u2019s election results mean for Democrats.
\n\u201cThis is a democracy,\u201d he continued. \u201cYou\u2019re going to have lots of perspectives. It\u2019s up to the voters to decide, and they did.\u201d
\nAOC ISSUES WARNING TO HER FELLOW DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENTS IN THE WAKE OF SOCIALISTS WINNING BIG IN NYC<\/p>\n
The comments come after three far-left candidates won New York Democratic primaries, including two who defeated sitting Democratic incumbents, fueling debate over whether the victories signal growing influence and intraparty division heading into November\u2019s midterms.
\n\u201cI\u2019m all about new leadership,\u201d Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., told Fox News Digital when asked about New York\u2019s election results.
\nSeveral Maryland Democrats argued the results reflected the unique politics of individual New York districts rather than a broader ideological shift within the Democratic Party.
\n\u201cI think it\u2019s very reflective of the district,\u201d former U.S. Capitol Police Officer and former Maryland congressional candidate Harry Dunn said.
\nHe continued, \u201cI think we\u2019ve got to be careful applying what happened in New York to everywhere around the country.\u201d
\nWATCH: KELLYANNE CONWAY INSISTS SOCIALIST PRIMARY VICTORIES DON\u2019T REFLECT AMERICAN VALUES NATIONWIDE<\/p>\n
Other Maryland Democrats stressed the need to respect voters\u2019 choices in their own districts, even when they disagree with the candidates who won.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t agree with all the things they\u2019ve said,\u201d Rep. Johnny Olszewski, D-Md., said about the socialist candidates in New York. \u201cI don\u2019t agree with all their positions, but I respect what the voters have done in New York. That\u2019s not reflective of the entire country.\u201d
\n\u201cEvery district determines who they want,\u201d Rep. Kweisi Mfume, D-Md., said. \u201cWe may not like it. Some people didn\u2019t want me in. So you have to respect what a district, a congressional district, does. It\u2019s still the rule of the people.\u201d
\nBut as the party strives to regain control in Congress, some moderate Democrats have sought to distance themselves from socialism and the party\u2019s leftward push.
\nVeteran Democratic strategist James Carville condemned some of the radical views of the newly nominated Democratic candidates, particularly Darializa Avila Chevalier \u2014 a member of Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) \u2014 who ousted five-term Democrat Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y.
\n\u201cShe has attacked interracial relationships and the American flag. Lady, I ain\u2019t in the same party as you. I\u2019m sorry,\u201d Carville said in an episode of his podcast, Politics War Room.
\nHe continued, \u201cEverybody\u2019s always said, \u2018No, no, we\u2019re a coalition. We\u2019re a big tent. And there\u2019s some \u2013 there\u2019s just some s\u2014 that I can\u2019t be in the same tent with.\u201d
\nJAMES CARVILLE SAYS SOCIALIST DEMOCRAT SHOULDN\u2019T BE IN THE PARTY, CALLS HER VIEWS \u2018A BRIDGE TOO FAR\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a capitalist, not a socialist,\u201d Rep. Thomas Suozzi, D-N.Y., previously told Fox News Digital regarding his views on the New York Democratic candidates. \u201cAnd I believe in safety, not lawlessness. And I\u2019m proud of America. I\u2019m not ashamed of America.\u201d
\nRaskin, however, defended the progressivism within his party, arguing the new wave of socialism the Democratic Party is seeing is not consistent with traditional values held by socialists.
\n\u201cWhen people say they\u2019re socialists today, I don\u2019t think that they believe in dialectical materialism and dictatorship of the proletariat and classical Marxian socialism,\u201d Raskin said. \u201cI think what they believe is much greater equality and reduction of all the class differences that have grown up under Trump and the plutocrats.\u201d
\nRepublicans have increasingly pointed to the Democratic Party\u2019s move toward socialist principles as a crux in campaigning to hold both their control of the Senate and razor-thin majority in the House.
\nMost Democratic lawmakers seem to be urging their party to focus on gaining control in Congress in the upcoming midterm elections, regardless of their feelings toward some of the ideology fueling new candidates within the party.
\n\u201cIn a perfect world, everybody should come together \u2014 Democratic socialists, moderates,\u201d Dunn said. \u201cEverybody should come together and work together to represent everybody and not just the people who elected them.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"