Warnings Keep Coming for Establishment Democrats

Add Pod Save America co-host and former Obama official Dan Pfeiffer to the list of those warning mainstream Democrats about a surge from the left. On the podcast, the former Obama communications director framed a string of progressive primary wins—from New York to Maine to California—as a "giant warning sign" for the party establishment, reports Mediaite. Candidates from groups on the party's left flank are outworking and out-maneuvering more traditional candidates, "and if you are someone in the Democratic establishment, you should be deeply concerned about what this says about where the party is, what the standing of the party is, what the ability of the party infrastructure actually is to win elections," said Pfeiffer. "So this is a big deal."

The issue continues to generate conversation in political circles:

• The next big test is Tuesday in Colorado, reports CNN. Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old democratic socialist and attorney, is challenging longtime Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette for a reliably blue seat in Denver. "I think voters have realized that the party and leadership are failing to meet this moment in a meaningful way, and it's time for leaders who are actually going to be fighting for the interests of working people," she tells the outlet.
• Over the weekend, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani framed the wins of three democratic socialists in congressional primaries there as a "national message" about how ordinary Americans are getting worn down by higher costs.
• Last week, 15 House Democratic centrists fired back, issuing a public letter asserting that "we are capitalist, not socialist," per the New York Times.
• In his critique, Pfeiffer added that, at this point, an endorsement from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer or House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries might hurt more than help a Democratic candidate.
• President Trump is rolling out a midterm message for Republicans that "communists" are taking over the Democratic Party, per Axios. He's going after the likely next mayor of DC, Janeese Lewis George, in particular, notes the Hill.