Democratic socialists aren’t the only young, progressive Democrats dividing the party

How will Democrats in Congress deal with the DSA-affiliated candidates likely to join their ranks in the new year? There are lessons from the tea party’s challenge to traditional GOP values.

By: Charlie Hunt, Boise State University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: July 7, 2026

Words: 1,493

Last Updated: 1 week, 6 days ago

Body Text Preview

By Charlie Hunt, Boise State University

A number of recent high-profile congressional primaries in the Democratic Party have resulted in the nomination of unexpected candidates. Many of these winning candidates have unseated entrenched incumbents, as 29-year-old Colorado attorney Melat Kiros did to U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, who has been serving in the House for three decades.

Some of these candidates are explicitly running under the banner of the Democratic Socialists of America, known …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us