Democrats’new-wave socialists are winning primaries but face a harsh reality in general elections

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani endorsed state Assemblymember Claire Valdez in the Democratic primary for New York’s 7th Congressional District.(Michael M.Santiago/Getty Images ;Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The atmosphere changed whenZohran Mamdanicame out of nowhere to trounce Andrew Cuomo and wind up in New York’s Gracie Mansion. 

Not only is he the city’s first Muslim mayor and anti-Israel, but he is a self-proclaimed socialist.

Here’s the problem: While that might be an asset in blue cities, it’s a huge albatross in a national orstatewide election.

DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST MAYORAL NOMINEE CREATES GROWING HEADACHE FOR VULNERABLE NEW YORK DEMOCRATS

Most voters in these contests are not willing to march under the socialist banner. 

In these broader elections, what helps in aDemocratic primaryis a poison pill. 

So how did this come about?

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Turns out that liberal andindependent votersare fed up with the Democratic establishment.They feel it’s a party of elitists playing the same old rhetorical game and not delivering for the working class.They resent the empty promises and the obsession with pronouns, “pregnant people” and trans men playing women’s sports.They feel abandoned. 

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But in intra-party contests, the secret ingredient seems to be charisma.Mamdani won over New Yorkers bycampaigninghis heart out. 

After promising such benefits as free buses and government-run grocery stores, he has run smack into reality, where he needs help from Albany to achieve even a fraction of his goals.

SOCIALIST SURGE: MAMDANI FLEXES GROWING POLITICAL MUSCLE AS HE TAKES ON DEMOCRATIC PARTY ESTABLISHMENT

And while Mamdani made no secret of beinganti-Israel and tried to mendfences with Jewish voters, he worked against Democratic incumbents in pushing pro-Palestinian candidates for Congress. 

He’s not alone.In Washington, voters elected Janeese Lewis George, who is also a proud socialist.(Winning the Democratic primary here is tantamount to election.) She promised government help for child care and tougherregulationof utilities.So D.C.has its own Mamdani. 

Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George joined parents, educators and organizers at a SPACEs In Action and Blandi Child Learning Center rally to demand funding for the Pay Equity Fund and childcare subsidies at the Blandi Child Learning Center in Washington, D.C., on March 27, 2026.(Paul Morigi/Getty Images for SPACEs in Action)

AndSeattleelected as mayor Katie Wilson, co-founder of the Transit Riders Union.She promised affordable housing, reduced homelessness, and to “Trump-proof Seattle,” especially on being a sanctuary city.

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AOC was the first ultra-liberalto capitalize on this, defeating a longtime incumbent and now so famous from social media that she’s flirting with a presidential run. 

Another case study is Maine’sGraham Platner, a Marine veteran who has survived a series of scandals (Nazi tattoo, sexting other women) that would have knocked out most candidates.In the primary, he trounced the state’s 78-year-old governor, and many liberals are willing to overlook his admittedly checkered past. 

Graham Platner, Democratic U.S.Senate candidate for Maine, speaks during a primary election night event at the Blue Hill YMCA in Blue Hill, Maine.(Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Platner has acknowledged having problems with alcohol,PTSDand being a bad boyfriend after returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

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The defining characteristics of these new-wave socialists: They tend to be younger and generate excitement on the trail. 

The MAGA coalition has been broader, at least until the Iran war, soaring prices and the never-ending warfare over theJeffrey Epsteinfiles. 

But that requiredDonald Trumpfirst getting elected and then bending the Republican Party to his will.His retribution against GOP candidates who defied him, knocking them off in primaries, has sent an unmistakable message to Republicans that dissent leads to political death.

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But it’s hard to see the capital-S socialists prevailing in ageneral election.Most voters still recoil from anything that reeks of socialism, however well it may play in New York, Washington and Seattle. 

The Dems are leaderless at the moment, though that may change after the midterms.But for now, the new-wave socialists look to be clobbered in almost any general election contest.Even given Trump’s current unpopularity, they can swim in blue waters but not in the larger green ocean of voters who head the other way from the turbulent tide of socialism. 

�s MediaBuzz. Based in Washington, D.C., he joined the network in 2013 and regularly appears on Special Report with Bret BaierandThe Story with Martha MacCallumamong other programs.