The far left is taking its political playbook nationwide, moving from high-profile primary wins in New York City and Colorado to a string of upcoming Democratic contests in Missouri, Michigan, Wisconsin and Florida.
After far-left and socialist-aligned candidates scored ballot-box victories over establishment-backed contenders in congressional primaries in New York City and Colorado the past two weeks, the left is taking aim at the Midwest.
Hours after (DSA) backed challenger and first-time candidate Melat Kiros toppled 15-term Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette in Tuesday’s primary in Denver’s deep blue 1st Congressional District, former Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri pledged on social media, “On August 4th, St. Louis will do the same.”
Kiros victory, coupled with wins a week earlier by three far-left congressional candidates heavily supported by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, is emboldening progressives as they try to turn isolated blue-city upsets into a national pressure campaign against the .Â
“Only socialism can solve decades of capitalist mismanagement in the US. Our newly elected leaders will fight for the working class â not for crumbs,” the DSA proclaimed in a social media post on Wednesday.
, the DSA-backed Bush is running to win back her seat in the state’s St. Louis-anchored 1st Congressional District.
Bush, a nurse, pastor and Black Lives Matter activist, first ran against Democratic Rep. Lacy Clay in 2018 before ousting him in the 2020 Democratic primary. But two years ago, she lost renomination to St. Louis County prosecuting attorney Wesley Bell, who was backed by millions in outside money, including pro-Israel groups opposed to Bush’s position on the war in Gaza.
Fast forward to today, and Bush and Clay are locked in an expensive and combative rematch.
The far left is also training its firepower on the crucial which holds its primary on the same day as Missouri.
Abdul El-Sayed, a former Wayne County health director who unsuccessfully ran for governor eight years ago as an insurgent, is one of three major candidates trying to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, D-Fla.
Backed last year by far left champion Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, El-Sayed on Thursday was endorsed by progressive rockstar Rep. Alexandria of New York.
“AOC has changed the trajectory of American politics and inspired a generation to believe that government really can work for working people,” El-Sayed wrote on social media. “Together, were proving that even in the face of unprecedented outside spending, a movement powered by the people can win.”
One week later, on Aug. 11, .
Wisconsin state Rep. Francesca Hong is on the rise among a crowded field of candidates in the race to succeed retiring Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.
“Its a great day to be a democratic socialist,” the DSA-aligned Hong posted on X last week after the progressive victories in New York City, in which two Democratic congressional incumbents lost renomination. “Wisconsin is next!”
A week later, the spotlight will shine , where DSA-backed Oliver Larkin is challenging two-term Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., in the state’s 25 Congressional District, which includes portions of Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties.
“Tonight, @MelatKirosCO, tomorrow @OliverALarkin. The movement moves from New York to Colorado to FLORIDA!,” the DSA wrote on X hours after Kiros’ victory.
Kiros, who lost her job as a lawyer in New York after writing an essay critical of Israel, was also backed by Justice Democrats, the nearly decade-old political group known for heavily supporting “Squad” members Ocasio-Cortez, and Reps. Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib as they toppled entrenched incumbents in their initial elections to Congress.Â
Hasan Piker, the controversial far-left streamer who attended Kiros primary night event in Denver, told Fox News, “I think progr