The recent string of high-profile victories by socialist candidates has led New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman to warn that the Democratic Party has veered too far left.
Speaking to Fox News Digital in the wake of Tuesday's wins, Blakeman said the results underscored the growing influence of the party's progressive wing and exposed a widening divide within the Democratic coalition.
"The lunatic left has taken over the Democratic Party," he said. "They've lost control of their party." The rise of socialist victories against traditional Democrats has intensified debate over the Party's future and the growing influence of its far-left flank.
Republicans have seized on those wins as evidence the party is moving away from moderate voters on issues such as taxes and public safety.
Blakeman, who is running to unseat New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, argued that socialists have effectively taken control of the Democratic Party, creating an opening for Republicans among moderate and working-class voters in the state.
"They've offered everybody free stuff," Blakeman said, adding that progressive candidates are making unrealistic promises to voters. "They're never going to do what they say they're going to."
He warned that such proposals would ultimately prove impossible to deliver and that voters are being sold an unrealistic vision in which "everything in New York could be free," while longtime Democrats increasingly feel disconnected from the party's recent direction.
Blakeman predicted that traditional Democrats will vote for Republicans this year, as they know their party has gone off the deep end.
The Republican hopeful pointed to the meteoric rise of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as evidence of what he described as the growing influence of socialists within the party.
Blakeman acknowledges that proposals such as government-run grocery stores and other publicly funded programs may be politically popular but claims they would ultimately fail to deliver on their promises.
He said many of the policies being championed by progressive candidates could harm small businesses and accelerate the outflow of residents and employers from New York.
Instead, he argued, the state should focus on lowering taxes, reducing utility costs, and creating a more business-friendly environment.
During his interview, Blakeman accused Hochul of being just as radical and failing to stand up to the Democratic Party's left flank as progressive figures like Mamdani gain prominence.
He described Hochul as "Comrade Kathy," suggesting a close alliance between the two.
Blakeman's campaign received a boost earlier this year when he secured the endorsement of a prominent political figure, which he said is valuable but urged voters to focus on shared concerns such as affordability, public safety, and lowering taxes.
He argued that the Democratic Party's growing embrace of socialist candidates could ultimately benefit Republicans, particularly among suburban and working-class voters who feel increasingly disconnected from the party's priorities.
Traditional Democrats see their party going off the deep end, Blakeman said. They don't like it, and they're going to come on board with us because it's the only way to stop their party from becoming an extinct party.
