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The Democratic Socialists of America is expanding its influence inside the Democratic Party, as socialist-backed candidates rack up primary wins and establishment Democrats increasingly fall in line behind them.
That dynamic is now reaching Georgia, where Sen. Jon Ossoff backed Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed after his primary victory, even as Republicans seek to make El-Sayed’s socialist support and political associations an issue in Ossoff’s own race.
The victories are creating a new political vulnerability for Democrats, as party leaders increasingly close ranks behind candidates backed by the left while Republicans try to tie them to the socialist movement’s policies and allies.
“The primary is in the past and the nominee has my support,” Ossoff said after El-Sayed emerged victorious from Michigan’s Democratic primary.
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The Atlanta DSA chapter also opened its first independent office in August, giving the organization a permanent organizing base in Georgia.
Ossoff is not alone. Rep. Haley Stevens, who warned during the Michigan primary that Democrats embracing socialism were “missing” what was at stake, rallied behind El-Sayed after narrowly losing to him.
“That’s called democracy,” Stevens said of backing El-Sayed. “You don’t sign up for a Democratic Party to be salty grapes and… just continue to hold a grudge.”
The post-primary unity gives Republicans a chance to argue that Democrats who once distanced themselves from socialism are now supporting socialist-backed candidates.
“Jon Ossoff’s big plan is to abandon Georgia to run for president, but he can’t do that without the support of the communist wing of his party, which calls all the shots. To seek the blessing of the communists, Ossoff knew he had to endorse the Islamo-Marxist [Abdul El-Sayed] in Michigan,” Georgia GOP Senate candidate Mike Collins’ campaign adviser Tim Murtaugh told Fox News Digital.
“But he must also know that he gets everything that comes along with that, including the dangerous anti-American, racist, anti-Jew, pro-Marxist junk. By wrapping his arms around the most radical elements of his party, Jon Ossoff has embraced the unembraceable,” Murtaugh added.
Socialists see the same election results very differently. Hartzell Gray, a DSA member and former congressional candidate, called recent primary victories the movement’s “scoreboard.”
“We come with a movement. We cannot be stopped,” Gray told Fox News Digital. “And no matter what one person or one personality that’s gonna be targeted, there’s a whole lot of personalities that are reclaiming our power.”
Socialist streamer Hasan Piker’s continued association with El-Sayed has come under fire from Republicans and other critics, particularly as Piker faces renewed scrutiny over inflammatory remarks from his past.
Piker has faced widespread criticism for saying that “America deserved 9/11” and, in another resurfaced remark, calling to let the streets soak in “red capitalist blood.”
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Weeks before the primary, El-Sayed was pressed on Piker’s remark during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
“It was a dumb statement,” El-Sayed said, while making clear that he did not believe America deserved the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, but rejected the idea that Piker should be cast aside over it.
Piker endorsed and supported Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign, and the two have since appeared together at events. Sanders, when previously asked about Piker’s 9/11 remark, similarly called it “a dumb statement.”
Gray also rejected the idea that Piker’s rhetoric should make him politically untouchable.
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“I’ll tell you right now, if given the chance to go back on, I go on again and again,” Gray told Fox News Digital of appearing on Piker’s podcast. “I’d be a weekly correspondent. I’ll make my own theme song.”
Gray argued that Piker is helping to “reclaim the American promise” as socialist candidates challenge Democratic establishment figures around the country.
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Gray said “billionaires should not exist,” arguing that capitalism itself does not create wealth — working people do.
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“It is working people who have been exploited along the way that have made our folks successful and whatever that is that that means,” Gray said.
The socialist movement notched another major victory Tuesday, when DSA member Angie Nixon upset Alex Vindman in Florida’s Democratic Senate primary, becoming the party’s nominee to face Republican Sen. Ashley Moody in November.
Fox News Digital reached out to Sanders, Piker and the DSA for comment.
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