Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) on Tuesday expressed concern that socialists winning on the Democratic Party’s ticket represent a movement that is out of touch with mainstream America.
Fetterman, a Democrat who is regularly chummy with Republican lawmakers, weighed in after several socialists won primary elections in New York House races Tuesday, dealing a blow to establishment-backed candidates. Socialist Darializa Avila Chevalier defeated Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), the chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, who was backed by House Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). New York State Assembly member Claire Valdez beat Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, who was backed by retiring Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY).
“It’s just been the dancing days of the dirtbag left,” Fetterman bemoaned after their victories, during an interview with Fox News’s Sean Hannity. “The kind of people they are trying to run out of office, they are just good, traditional kinds of Democrats you would expect in New York City now.”
“You know, some of these candidates are outrageous. You have candidates, they’re ‘abolish ICE,’ ‘abolish the police,’ ‘abolish the border,’ … a pro-Hamas wing … just declaring a war on just regular Democrats,” he added.
His comments were a reference to positions Avila Chevalier, a self-described “prison abolitionist” who is against deporting anyone from the United States, has taken. She’s declined to directly confirm whether she believes Israel should continue to exist as a country, and both Avila Chevalier and Valzez have accused Israel of committing genocide. The pair hit their opponents for not embracing a harsh stance on Israel.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, also a socialist, endorsed both Avila Chevalier and Valdez. Their victories on Tuesday evening mark a victory for the increasingly powerful socialist movement in the country’s largest city.
During the interview, Fetterman expressed concern that politicians in his party are increasingly taking an anti-Jewish stance, accusing Mamdani of “grieving a Hamas sniper.” The comment referred to Al Jazeera cameraman Ahmed Wishah, whom Israel believes was a Hamas fighter.
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“They’re all socialists, of course, and now there’s a communist and now a Marxist,” Fetterman continued, pointing to Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner. “We have P-Hustle in Maine. You know, that’s another one. He’s a self-avowed communist, too. Well, that’s not even looked down on, and it’s a significant part of the Democratic Party right now.”
“The party is becoming increasingly out of step with the American people,” he said.