Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., clashed with a Fox News correspondent on Capitol Hill over concerns that Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates who won New York primaries this week could threaten Democratic unity and complicate House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' path to the speakership.
The exchange came after several socialist candidates won Democratic nominations in New York City, raising questions about whether the party's left flank could complicate Democrats' messaging and create new headaches for Jeffries if Democrats win back control of the House.
Larson defended New York voters' right to choose their nominees and expressed confidence that Jeffries could manage any new ideological tension inside the House Democratic Caucus.
"The voters of New York make up their own mind. We don't control voters of New York. In America, in a free Democratic-Republic, people get to choose their elective representatives," Larson said.
Larson was also pressed on whether Democratic Socialists of America-affiliated candidates coming to Capitol Hill would create division and dissension inside the House Democratic Caucus.
"Hakeem Jeffries is the greatest leader that we can have, because he will bring everybody together, as he has with the 11 separate, different caucuses and more in the Democratic caucus already," Larson said.
Larson was questioned about whether the DSA-backed candidates could present a new kind of challenge for Jeffries as he tries to become Speaker.
"Well, she wasn't Speaker for a long time either, but she became Speaker and she did an outstanding job. Jeffries is going to be an outstanding Speaker because of his ability to bring people together," Larson said.
Larson was also pressed on whether Democrats would distance themselves from candidates or groups accused of holding antisemitic views.
"The people in New York chose the candidates they did," Larson replied.
Larson expressed his opposition to antisemitism, but continued to argue that voters had the right to choose their nominees.
The exchange continued as Larson was grilled on a DSA statement that called for eliminating the Senate and having the House choose the president and the Supreme Court.
"That's the DSA. The people of New York decide who their elected officials are. The people of Connecticut decide who their elected officials are," Larson said.
Larson was asked whether that sounded radical, and replied, "A lot of people sound radical to me. Radical on the left. Radical on the right. What's your point?"
Larson then disengaged and took questions from another reporter.
