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By Andrew Stanton
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Several primary victories by left-leaning candidates and democratic socialists are reshaping the Democratic Party ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Left-leaning candidates are defeating moderates across the country, and some democratic socialists are defeating more mainstream progressives, potentially reshaping the Democratic caucus in the House of Representatives and Senate after the November elections.
Democratic fury over President Donald Trump’s administration has shaped recent primaries. But it isn’t just outrage over Trump that is fueling the progressive surge. Many Democrats are increasingly frustrated with Democratic leadership and what they view as a feeble response to the administration’s conservative agenda in Washington—fueling calls for new leadership and primaries against sitting Democrats.
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The political left is poised to expand its ranks in Congress come November, but there are key distinctions in the types of progressives who could be entering its halls next year. While democratic socialists are expected to more than double their representation in Congress, many of the progressives winning their primaries do not really identify as democratic socialists.
Progressives and democratic socialists often have certain policies in common: support for Medicare for All or more stringent environmental protections, as well as critiques of U.S. foreign policy from both major parties, particularly in the Middle East. But there are some real differences that could play out as democratic socialists increase their presence in the next Congress.
Newsweek reached out to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and Representative Greg Casar, who chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), for comment via email.
Progressive and Democratic Socialist Candidates Sweep Primaries
Michigan’s primary this week became the latest battleground in the progressive versus moderate battle that has defined the primaries in the Democratic Party.
Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive, defeated centrist Representative Haley Stevens for the party’s nomination in what is likely to be one of the most competitive races of the 2026 midterms—a major victory for progressives hoping to prove they can win in swing states, not just safely Democratic districts.
Several democratic socialists have also won primaries. In New York, two DSA-affiliated candidates, Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila-Chevalier, were victorious, with the latter defeating a progressive incumbent.
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Melat Kiros defeated Representative Diana DeGette in a Democratic primary for a Denver-based seat. DSA member Chris Rabb won an open race in a Philadelphia-based district, while Donavan McKinney defeated Representative Shri Thanedar in a Michigan primary earlier this week.
Several non-DSA progressives have also won. In New York, former City Comptroller Brad Lander defeated Representative Dan Goldman in a Democratic primary. While Goldman is a member of the CPC, some viewed him as insufficiently progressive to represent one of the most left-leaning districts in the country.
Several other candidates endorsed by the progressive group Justice Democrats have won their primaries, including Adam Hamawy in New Jersey, Justin Pearson in Tennessee and Frederick Haynes in Texas.
Most of those victories have been in solidly Democratic districts that are unlikely to become competitive in November. Pearson's Tennessee district is an exception, as it was redrawn to become more conservative in mid-decade redistricting. Generally, the party's voters put up more moderate candidates in tough races, as leaders believe they are better suited to win over independents.
Another anomaly is in Michigan, where progressive William Lawrence, a former DSA member, prevailed over more moderate Democrats in a competitive district based around Lansing. The race will be a major test for whether progressives can win in a purple district in November.
How Are Democratic Socialists Different From Progressives?
There are several key differences between democratic socialists and progressive Democrats. The term “progressive” is a broad term that generally incorporates the left-leaning angle of the party. Progressives can be, but not always, democratic socialists.
The line between progressives and democratic socialists is “blurry,” and not necessarily one that most voters are thinking about, Adam Carlson, founding partner at Zenith Research, told Newsweek.
The definition of “progressive” is not necessarily static.
Carlson noted that some members of the CPC are also in the more centrist New Democratic Coalition and may not necessarily be viewed as true progressives by some in the party’s left flank.
“While I think they have fit a prior version of what progressivism is, like a prior progressive candidate, I think that in today’s context a lot of them would be considered the ideological middle of the party,” he said. “The party just moved left, especially with the new incoming crop of anti-establishment, progressive left candidates.”
One major difference is that most progressives in Congress are capitalists.
Democratic socialists may seek to transform capitalism and support increased public ownership of certain industries, while many progressives prefer to regulate capitalism and oppose public ownership.
Even among progressives, there are policy differences. While many want to see a Medicare for All system, others have embraced a public option as an alternative healthcare system. Some want to see rent control and social housing, while others prefer to embrace stronger tenant protections.
Only the most engaged voters are likely to make the distinction between democratic socialists and progressives, according to Carlson.
El-Sayed Says He’s Not a Democratic Socialist
While El-Sayed is often lumped in with many of the democratic socialists who have won their primaries, El-Sayed does not identify as one and is not affiliated with the DSA.
He told CBS News he is “not DSA” but believes its members can play a role in the Democratic Party. El-Sayed said his coalition is also welcome to “three time Trump voters who want to keep their healthcare,” adding that he is working to build a “broad coalition.”
He said he’s not sure why he is considered by some to be a democratic socialist, adding that it might fit into “a nice telling of a broader national story.”
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“But I’m a scientist, and I like solutions that solve problems. That’s the approach that I’ve always taken. I don’t do ideology. I’d rather think of myself as a capitalist who actually read about capitalism, in the sense that the biggest risk that capitalism was always going to be corporate consolidation and monopoly, rather than government regulation,” he said.
Carlson compared El-Sayed to someone like Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, who has never identified as a democratic socialist but has become a stalwart of the progressive movement.
Warren isn’t the only prominent progressive who is not affiliated with democratic socialism. Two of the four founding members of the progressive “squad,” Minnesota Representatives Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, have not identified as democratic socialists.
Even among democratic socialists, there are still differences. Senator Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, identifies as a democratic socialist, but isn’t part of the DSA organization, though it has supported him in the past.
Which Democrats Are Members of DSA?
In Congress, there are two members of DSA—Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is another prominent DSA elected official, as he leads the most populous city in the country. There are dozens of state and local officials who are members of the DSA as well.
Which Democrats Are Progressives?
There are nearly 100 members of CPC, generally seen as the best way to differentiate between progressive and moderate Democrats.
How Popular Is Democratic Socialism?
Many Democrats are anxious about the rise of democratic socialists, expressing concerns that democratic socialism is not particularly popular among the electorate, and that these candidates could become an albatross for Democrats running in more competitive races. Most democratic socialists and progressives have been winning in more safely Democratic districts and states, but Michigan showed there is more of an appetite for progressives in competitive areas.
In the meantime, polls suggest democratic socialists have work ahead to improve their image across the electorate.
A new Marquette Law School poll showed that DSA has a -30 net favorability rating, with 24 percent of respondents saying they view the organization favorably and 54 percent viewing it unfavorably. Twenty-two percent said they had not heard enough to give their view on it. That marks a slight decline in favorability since April, when its net favorability stood at -28 points in Marquette’s polling.
Individual democratic socialist candidates were seen slightly less unfavorably, with 31 percent viewing them favorably and 53 percent unfavorably.
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The pollster sought to differentiate between how voters view the DSA as an organization versus candidates who describe themselves as democratic socialists but are not necessarily connected to the organization.
It also found that individual democratic socialist politicians are viewed less unfavorably than the ideology of democratic socialism, with Sanders having a net approval of -2, Mamdani of -6 and Ocasio-Cortez of -11.
The survey was conducted among 1,076 adults nationwide from July 22-29 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points.
A new poll from Ipsos and The Washington Post similarly found that many Americans hold negative views of the DSA. It found that 15 percent said they like political leaders who identify as democratic socialists, compared to 36 percent who dislike them. Forty-six percent said they neither like nor dislike them.
Fifty-five percent of respondents said they would not consider voting for a democratic socialist, while 39 percent said they would consider it, according to the poll of 2,648 U.S. adults July 8-13.
What Is Democratic Socialism?
Just as there are differences between progressivism and democratic socialism, there are also differences between democratic socialism and other forms of socialism.
DSA describes democratic socialism as a system "where ordinary people have a real voice in our workplaces, neighborhoods, and society." It recently announced its platform outlining its policy viewpoints, including establishing single-payer healthcare, defunding the Department of Defense and establishing public ownership of the largest corporations and essential industries.
"We want a democracy that creates space for us all to flourish not just survive and answers the fundamental questions of our lives with the input of all. We want to collectively own the key economic drivers that dominate our lives, such as energy production and transportation. We want the multiracial working class united in solidarity instead of divided by fear," the DSA website reads.
The key difference between democratic socialism and other forms of socialism is that democratic socialism maintains that any move toward a more socialist economy must occur through democratic institutions, civil liberties and competitive elections, not through centralized or authoritarian control.
The philosophy supports a socially owned economy but believes it should be achieved through political democracy. It also emphasizes individual rights.
Merriam-Webster defines democratic socialism as a “political movement calling for the establishment of a decentralized socialist economic system within a democratically run political system.” It defines socialism as “any of various egalitarian economic and political theories or movements advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.”
It’s also different from communism, which is defined as a “totalitarian system of government in which a single authoritarian party controls state-owned means of production.”
What Happens Next?
DSA faces another major electoral test on Tuesday in Wisconsin, where member Francesca Hong, a state legislator, is running in the Democratic primary for governor. She has led polling, but many Democrats are nervous about her chances, expressing concerns that she may be a poor candidate in the general election for such a competitive race. Incumbent Democratic Governor Tony Evers, who is retiring, is among those who have raised questions about her electability.
The candidacies of Hong, El-Sayed and Lawrence could all be key tests in November as to whether moderate voters and independents are willing to support progressives in competitive states.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Jason Lemon and Edward T. Cummins.
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