Washington Examiner chief political correspondent Byron York said establishment Democrats are increasingly concerned as socialists gain influence within the party and use Democrats as a path to elected office.
“The Democratic Socialists of America, who use the Democratic Party as a vehicle to get on to ballots, to get money, to get connections, to win office, and then will try to destroy the Democratic Party,” York said on Fox News’s The Ingraham Angle Friday.
York reacted to an X post from political strategist and former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Jaime Harrison.
“I say this with no ill will or animosity: if you hate the Democratic Party, then please don’t run for our nomination. Don’t use our resources. Don’t rely on our volunteers. Don’t use our infrastructure. Don’t ask Democrats to invest their time, money, and energy in your campaign,” Harrison said.
York argued that this kind of messaging proves that establishment Democrats “can see what’s happening” with socialists in the party.
“These people are not socialists, they are communists,” York said.
York said Republicans are letting the movement run its course.
“Their big hope is the Democrats will do all this damage to themselves,” York said, asserting that this is what is going to help Republicans in the midterm elections.
York said President Donald Trump has faced barriers in preparing for the midterm elections because he has been focused on other things, like the government shutdown and the war in Iran.
York said Republicans still need the president’s leadership in the midterm elections and cannot rely on the Democratic Party crumbling.
“The president is the most powerful voice for the Republicans. That’s going to be the big factor for the GOP in the midterms,” York said.
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York talked about socialists already in office who are causing a headache for Democrats. He said that socialists like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) have become a “national figure,” but not to Democrats’ advantage.
“They’re [socialists are] going to win. They’re going to be in the House. The general election doesn’t mean anything. The Democrats are going to be elected, but we know right now that they [socialists] are going to be a problem for the Democratic leadership in the House,” York said.