OPINION:
Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed says he isn’t a member of the Democratic Socialists of America — but the DSA has poured organizers and resources into his campaign, and Bernie Sanders and AOC have both backed him.
Tim Constantine and David Bozell discuss why that socialist-aligned label, disputed or not, could be a gift to Republicans in the 2026 midterms.
I think the map stacks up better for Republicans than people think. Where the media get involved in this is that they’re protecting these socialist candidates by just calling everyone progressive. Everyone is underneath this progressive umbrella. Bernie Sanders is not progressive. Bernie Sanders is viciously left-wing, and to his own admission. And so El-Sayed will enjoy that cocoon… He’s going to enjoy that coverage. It’s going to be up to Republicans to dump the “ism” tag on them. Socialism, communism. So I like the Republican map better than I originally thought.
See more from Tim Constantine and David Bozell
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