The Socialist Takeover of the Democratic Party is going about as smoothly as Germany’s Takeover of France in 1940.
by David Shephard, ©2026
(Jul. 2, 2026) — The march of socialism continues to spread beyond New York. Last night in Denver, Diana DeGette, a 15-term incumbent and the leader of the progressive caucus in the House of Representatives, lost her primary to a 29-year-old socialist named Melat Kiros. In addition to being a socialist, Kiros, from Ethiopia, is a far-left radical who blames the United States for 911, saying that America’s foreign policy (in her view anti-Muslim) made 911 “inevitable.” This bizarre conclusion is not surprising because she hates America. She doesn’t say “Gaza”; she prefers to use the word “Palestine” because she doesn’t even recognize Israel’s right to exist. Kiros should win in November, since the district is overwhelmingly Democrat, and her election will mean that there will be seven socialists in Congress.
Pennsylvania’s Democrat Governor, Josh Shapiro, a person who is thought of as a moderate, was asked about the rise of socialism this morning on MS NOW. I kind-of thought Shapiro would take the opportunity to offer some distance with these people. I thought he would want to help push the narrative that the Democratic Party is still moderate, pro-America, and pro-business and steer his party away from disastrous socialism, but he didn’t. He didn’t condemn any of the positions of Kiros, or of the two socialists, Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez, elected last week in New York. And he purposely ignored the fact that none of the nominated socialists support Israel’s right to exist.
Shapiro doesn’t seem to want to be the responsible Democrat to challenge the socialists, but the sad reality is that antisemitism is a vile poison running through the veins of the socialists, and as their influence in the party increases the chances of Josh Shapiro (who is Jewish) becoming the Democratic nominee in 2028 diminishes.
So, if not Shapiro, then who? What moderate (relatively speaking) Democrat will step forward to stop the socialist takeover? Come to think of it, other than James Carville, I can’t think of a single prominent mainstream or establishment elected Democrat offering any resistance or even offering a skeptical word of opposition to this latest rise of socialism.
Why? Well, traditional liberals don’t have much to offer. The socialists have a message, a bad message, but one that sells to angry, hopeless and economically and historically ignorant people. Traditional Democrats don’t have the intellect, the new ideas, or energy to fight back.
And perhaps traditional Democrats believe that they can control the socialists once they get elected. But as history has taught us, when the left gets in power their far-left flank takes over, whether it was the Jacobins in France in the 18th century or the Bolsheviks in the 20th. For example, in the Colorado race Diana DeGette was one of the most progressive members of Congress, yet she still couldn’t keep her job. The socialists recruited and nominated Kiros, who was to DeGette’s left, and Kiros won.
Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries may think that they can harness the power of the socialists and still run things in Washington. This is nonsense. Like DeGette they will be primaried and likely defeated next time they are up for reelection.
The Democratic Party is very rapidly being transformed into a socialist party. The cities are already electing socialists. Beyond Zohran Mamdani in New York, Seattle has a socialist mayor, DC will soon have a socialist mayor, and Los Angeles may elect a socialist mayor this November. A socialist, Nithya Raman, is in the runoff with incumbent LA Mayor Karen Bass.
Socialists can do well in the cities, because people who are most inclined to vote for a socialist such as over-educated people, white younger people who grew up affluent and now are downwardly mobile, tend to live in cities. It won’t be too long until a majority of big city mayors will be affiliated with the socialists.
However, it won’t play well in the suburbs. And if Republicans are smart, they will force all Democrats to defend the socialists. No matter the state or the districts, every Republican Congressional candidate should run against eight people: their opponent and the seven socialists. If Republicans nationalize this election and make it about socialism, Republicans will do well.
The socialists may not take over the Democratic Party, but at the very least traditional Democrats will have to incorporate a number of their positions. And that will produce a political death spiral: to placate the socialists, yesterday’s radical positions, such as abolishing ICE, open borders, packing the Supreme Court, getting rid of the Senate filibuster, DC and Puerto Rico statehood, Medicare for all, will become litmus-test issues for Democrats.
Sooner or later Democrats will need to stand up to the socialists. If not, they will lose every swing state and district for a generation.
David Shephard is a native and very proud Virginian. Raised in Fairfax County, David graduated from George Mason University and majored in Government and Politics. He spent decades in politics, campaign consulting, raising money and lobbying. He is also a longtime conservative blogger writing for numerous blogs. He is also the host of “The Virginia Gentleman Podcast.”
David is the author of Elections Have Consequences, A Cautionary Tale, and his latest book, Norton’s Choice: An Inside Politics Exposé.
In her view, “anti Muslim.”
I hope.
To make this article truthful, author should replace the 35 instances of the word “socialist” or a version thereof with the word “communist”.