House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) warned Wednesday that communism is now on “our own shores” after a slate of far-left candidates backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) prevailed in NYC primaries.
The warning came after progressive candidates Brad Lander and Darializa Avila Chevalier defeated two establishment Democrat incumbents, while State Assembly member Claire Valdez (D-NY), another socialist candidate, won an open House seat with backing from Mamdani and the DSA.
“It is a very serious time,” Johnson said at a news conference on Wednesday.
“Every American needs to wake up and understand the threat,” the Republican House speaker warned.
“The Marxists have nominated some of the most radical candidates to ever run for office, and they’re running for Congress.
“The insurgent left is on the rise.”
Socialist Slate Poised to Win Deep-Blue Seats
All three far-left candidates are expected to win in November because of Democrats’ overwhelming advantages in their deep-blue districts.
The slate is fiercely critical of Israel, supports abolishing the police and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and wants to impose a wealth tax, among other progressive policy positions.
Avila Chevalier, a 32-year-old anti-American activist who participated in the pro-Hamas protests at Columbia University following Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, has come under scrutiny for since-deleted social media posts reviewed by CNN.
In those posts, Avila Chevalier reportedly claimed, “Israel doesn’t exist,” expressed support for open borders, and stated, “All deportation is wrong.”
The Mamdani ally has also voiced support for the prison abolition movement.
During an interview with the Substack publication The New York Editorial Board, Avila Chevalier declined to say whether a man who randomly murdered another person should go to jail.
She has also faced scrutiny for describing former President Joe Biden as “a rapist” and writing, “F— Kamala Harris,” in 2021 after former Vice President Kamala Harris told Guatemalan nationals not to illegally enter the United States.
Avila Chevalier defeated Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), ending the political career of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus chairman, who has highlighted his background as the first former illegal immigrant elected to Congress.
Johnson Says Democratic Party Has Changed
Johnson also pointed to the defeat of Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY), a Jewish lawmaker who faced anti-Semitic attacks over his support for Israel during the final days of the race.
Lander, Goldman’s Mamdani-backed challenger, is also Jewish and has vowed to support the Hamas cause in Congress.
“This is not your father’s Democrat Party,” Johnson said, pointing to the losses by Espaillat and Goldman.
Johnson has repeatedly warned about the far left’s growing electoral power since Mamdani’s upset mayoral victory last year.
The speaker framed the rise of the socialist flank as a sharp contrast with Republicans heading into November’s midterm elections.
“We’ve been saying for months it’s a contrast election,” Johnson said.
“We’ve been saying it’s a contrast between common sense and crazy.
“That’s exactly what’s going on.
“They give us new illustrations every day.”
Johnson Warns of ‘Mini Mamdanis’ Across the Country
Johnson also drew attention to Democratic House candidate Mai Vang, a socialist running to unseat Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA).
Vang has faced backlash after videos surfaced showing her declining to face the American flag and recite the Pledge of Allegiance while serving on the Sacramento City Council.
“There are mini Mamdanis popping up all around the country,” Johnson said.
“It is a dangerous thing.
“This is not a joke,” he warned.
“We’re in a fight right now to save the Republic.”
The warning comes as far-left streamer Hasan Piker said earlier in June that a sweeping victory for Mamdani-backed candidates would help advance the socialist movement’s broader policy goals.
“For the longest time, I thought we were so far away from socialism, and we might still be far away from socialism, but we do have an opportunity right here, right now, more than ever before,” Piker said at a rally in Brooklyn for DSA-endorsed candidates.
