Five Democratic Socialists Defeat Incumbents in Midterm Primaries

Five candidates identifying as democratic socialists have secured their party's nominations for congressional races across four states. Darializa Avila Chevalier, Melat Kiros, Donavan McKinney, Chris Rabb, and Claire Valdez defeated incumbents or designated successors in primary contests held this fall. All five are projected to win their general elections on Nov. 3, adding to the two democratic socialists currently serving in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Chevalier, a former field staffer for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, defeated Rep. Adriano Espaillat in a district covering upper Manhattan and the Bronx. She formally joined the democratic socialist movement last year. During her campaign, she argued that government and her opponent had abandoned the working class. "I think folks are really tired of politics that seems more beholden to donors," she told The Associated Press hours before winning her primary.

Kiros, a 29-year-old lawyer and doctoral student, unseated Rep. Diana DeGette, a 30-year incumbent, in a Denver-area seat. An immigrant from Ethiopia, Kiros earned degrees from Washington College and the University of Notre Dame. In her victory speech, she outlined plans to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, pass Medicare for All, and end what she called the "genocide in Palestine." "This is a movement," Kiros said. "We are just getting started."

McKinney, a 34-year-old Michigan state lawmaker, overcame a spending disadvantage to defeat Rep. Shri Thanedar in a Detroit-area district. His grassroots campaign focused on reforming utility costs and getting money out of politics. "No longer can our party continue to serve two masters," McKinney said at an event in August. "It’s up to us to push our party to either fight for the working people, or continue to fight for the corporate oligarchs."

Rabb, a member of the Pennsylvania state House for 10 years, won a four-way primary in a heavily Democratic Philadelphia district. He joined the Philadelphia chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America in 2026. Rabb supported abolishing ICE, imposing a moratorium on data centers, and creating government-run grocery stores. "I believe that the Democratic Party listens more to people who fund it than the people who actually come out to vote," he said.

Valdez, a New York state lawmaker and DSA member since 2019, defeated the handpicked successor to retiring Rep. Nydia Velazquez in a district spanning Brooklyn and Queens. She campaigned on affordability and generational change, positioning herself as a booster of Mamdani's agenda in Washington. "Right now there’s really mass dissatisfaction with the way the party leadership has been operating and not standing up strongly enough to Trump," Valdez told The Associated Press earlier this year.

These newcomers join a growing presence of progressive voices in national politics. The election of Mamdani to the mayor's office in New York and the long-standing influence of Sen. Bernie Sanders have shifted ideas within the Democratic Party. While Republicans have raised concerns about socialism, these candidates represent a specific faction within the party rather than the entire progressive wing.

Several other candidates align with the party's left but are not necessarily DSA members. Adam Hamawy, an Army veteran and medical doctor running in New Jersey, said he would ally with those supporting corporate money reform. Angela Gonzales-Torres is running in California to unseat Rep. Jimmy Gomez. William Lawrence, a climate activist in Michigan, is seeking to defeat GOP Rep. Tom Barrett in a competitive seat.

The five confirmed primary winners are expected to serve for the final two years of President Donald Trump's term. Their entry into Congress will introduce new members to a chamber where party leadership may face challenges from the left regardless of which party holds the majority.