The Democratic Party's shift to the left has sparked concern among some of its moderates, with one senator speaking out strongly against the party's new direction. On Sunday evening, Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., blasted a series of victories for progressives he called "anti-America."
The senator's comments refer to New York's recent primaries, where two members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) won seats. Fetterman's striking calls give a rare look at how some moderates may view the developments on their far-left flank that have dominated the party's momentum in recent months.
Key progressive victories have sparked national attention and drawn criticism from Republicans. In Maine, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate has been embroiled in controversy over a Nazi-linked tattoo and off-color comments about race. Similarly, in New York, one DSA member won a primary on a platform of abolishing ICE and a Green New Deal-style approach to climate change.
The DSA candidate was backed by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who is a self-proclaimed socialist. This has led to criticism from Republicans who point to the success of these candidates as emblematic of the direction of the Democratic Party.
Fetterman, who has not shied away from confrontations, has been one of the few Democrats to express alarm about the kind of candidates carrying the party's banner. He expressed concern over proposals to abolish prison, the border, and ICE, calling them "crazy."
Fetterman suggested that the party's movement to the left has led to a situation where its own candidates are being forced to delete their more radical views on social media. He implied that the party's progressive wing should form its own party and run on their ideals.
