Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., is now reportedly warning that a wave of democratic socialist primary victories signals a major shift within the Democratic Party, arguing that establishment Democrats are increasingly being replaced by candidates openly embracing socialist policies.
Speaking with NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo on Wednesday evening, Boebert said Democrats are “taking out their own” by backing democratic socialist candidates in primary elections across the country.
The Colorado Republican argued that the party is moving toward what she believes is a more radical political agenda.
“I promise you, this next Congress, they will push harder than ever for these things,” Boebert said, adding that Democrats are “wanting true socialism, which inevitably will be communism.”
President Donald Trump has also criticized democratic socialist candidates, describing them as “communist.” The two political ideologies, however, have distinct goals. According to the Democratic Socialists of America, the organization’s objective is to replace capitalism with “a system where ordinary people have a real voice” in political decisions.
Boebert pointed to the recent Democratic primary victory of Milat Kiros in Colorado’s 1st Congressional District as an example of the party’s direction.
Kiros, 29, defeated longtime Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette, who has represented the district in the House since 1997.
During her campaign, Kiros pledged not to support any Democratic leader who “takes corporate PAC money.” She has also drawn criticism over her views on Israel.
Boebert said Kiros has been open about her political beliefs.
“Milat is not lying. She wants socialism. She wants more of it, a lot of it, and she’s very proud to say it,” Boebert told NewsNation.
The congresswoman argued that Republicans running in Colorado now view democratic socialist candidates as representative of the Democratic Party as a whole.
“And so now the pretend-to-be-normal Democrats that people like myself and Gabe Evans in Colorado are running against, well, this is their party, and this is what we are running against as well,” she said.
Kiros received support from Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and the Democratic Socialists of America during her campaign.
Following her primary victory, Sanders celebrated the result on social media, calling it another sign that voters are seeking political change.
“The tide is turning. Americans are tired of status quo politics,” Sanders wrote. “They want representatives in Congress who will stand up to oligarchy and fight for working families.”
Kiros’ victory comes amid a string of successful campaigns by democratic socialist candidates in other parts of the country.
Last week, Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier each won Democratic House primaries in New York. Both candidates received support from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who is also a democratic socialist.
Meanwhile, in California, Democratic Socialists of America member Nithya Raman secured a place in Los Angeles’ November mayoral election early last month. She is set to face incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat.
In the nation’s capital, progressive Democrat Janeese Lewis George is also positioned to become Washington, D.C.’s next mayor, succeeding outgoing Mayor Muriel Bowser.
The recent primary results have highlighted the growing influence of democratic socialist candidates in several major cities and congressional districts, with endorsements from Sanders and the Democratic Socialists of America helping boost a number of campaigns.
For Boebert, those victories represent more than isolated races. She argued they reflect a broader transformation within the Democratic Party, contending that candidates openly identifying as democratic socialists are increasingly defining the party’s direction as Republicans prepare for the next congressional elections.
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