Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania says the Democratic Party is turning into something he no longer recognizes.
“I said months ago, I said the Democratic Party is becoming an orgy of socialism. These recent elections vindicate my description,” Fetterman said, according to the New York Post.
His comments came after Tuesday’s New York City Democratic primary elections, where several left-wing candidates backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani defeated more centrist opponents.
Darializa Avila Chevalier, who has drawn support from the pro-Palestinian left, narrowly defeated Rep. Adriano Espaillat, a five-term incumbent, according to the New York Post. Former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and state Assembly member Claire Valdez also won their races against centrist challengers.
Avila Chevalier and Valdez are members of the Democratic Socialists of America. All three candidates had the backing of Mamdani, whose rise has fueled debate inside the party over how far left Democrats should move.
Democrats just nominated a woman for Congress named Daraliza Avila Chevalier.
She openly hates America. She said in a social media post “I forgot to get napkins so I just wiped my hand on the American flag behind me.”
She calls America a “F**ing disgrace.”
She will be… pic.twitter.com/YVsuoUKIY7
— Ben Hart (@BenHart_Freedom) June 24, 2026
Fetterman reserved his harshest comments for Avila Chevalier.
“Chevalier described America as a f–king disgrace. She posted ‘f–k Kamala Harris’ and posted that she forgot napkins and wiped her hands on the American flag,” Fetterman said. “She wants to abolish the border, abolish prisons. That is a deeply disturbed individual.”
He also took aim at Avila Chevalier and Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner, referring to them as “the dirtbag left’s new power couple.” Fetterman used the phrase while referring to Platner by his Reddit name, according to the New York Post.
Despite his criticism of the party’s left wing, Fetterman said switching parties would not change much about how he approaches his job.
“Even if I changed my party, my votes or views wouldn’t change,” he said. “I address this very directly. That’s the truth.”
Fetterman has repeatedly warned that far-left activists are trying to push out Democrats who hold more traditional views.
“The kind of people they are trying to run out of office, they are just good, traditional kinds of Democrats you would expect in New York City now,” Fetterman said during a Fox News interview, according to The Hill.
“And now this has just become — really, it’s just been the dancing days of the dirtbag left. You know, some of these candidates are outrageous,” he said.
He pointed to slogans such as “abolish ICE,” “abolish the police” and “abolish the border” as examples of where he believes the party’s activist wing has moved too far.
Anti-Israel.
Anti-America.
Anti-Western Civilization.
Why am I the only Democrat in the U.S. Senate that refuses to excuse this or defend any of those self-identified communists? pic.twitter.com/nKE3Yprp10
— U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) June 24, 2026
Democratic strategist James Carville voiced similar frustration, saying he does not want to be associated with Avila Chevalier’s politics.
“I have the quote right here, I’ll get to it. She has attacked interracial relationships and the American flag. Lady, I ain’t in the same party as you. I’m sorry,” Carville said on an episode of “Politics War Room,” according to Fox News.
Carville said Democrats may need to start openly discussing a split within the party.
“I actually do think it’s time for Democrats to talk ‘the S-word.’ ‘Schism.’ I really do,” he said.
He added that while Democrats often describe themselves as a broad coalition, some views are beyond what he is willing to accept.
“Everybody’s always said, ‘No, no, we’re coalition. We’re a big tent,’” Carville said. “And there’s some — there’s just some s— that I can’t be in the same tent with.”
