On Sunday, July 26th, 2026, Megan Romer, national co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), stated that establishment Democrats should be concerned about voter dissatisfaction. Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Romer emphasized that mainstream Democrats have not been delivering on voter expectations, while DSA-backed candidates have resonated with constituents.

Host Shannon Bream referenced former Democratic National Committee chair Jaime Harrison's remarks that candidates who dislike the Democratic Party but run as Democrats should not use the party's resources and infrastructure, instead building the parties they truly support. Romer dismissed this, arguing that both major parties have created a system that severely restricts ballot access for third parties.

Progressive and democratic socialist candidates have seen victories nationwide during the 2026 midterm primary elections, including several in New York. Following New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's win last year, democratic socialist candidates are now targeting mayoral races in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.

Experts caution against interpreting these wins solely as ideological shifts, suggesting they reflect a broader voter desire for change ahead of the fall midterms and the 2028 presidential election. As one analyst noted, voters want officials to focus on middle-class interests and dismantle systems favoring the wealthy.

Additionally, Senator Bernie Sanders pushed back against an op-ed by Rahm Emanuel, U.S. ambassador to Japan and a potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate, who warned that so-called “Bernie bros” could jeopardize Democratic chances in the November congressional elections.

Sources