After Adriano Espaillat's New York primary loss, Rep. Hillary Scholten pointed to weak turnout and warned Democrats to consider which voters DSA-aligned politics could alienate.
A Washington Times tally identified at least 82 candidates for state legislatures in 2026 who were DSA dues-paying members or had the organization's endorsement. It also counted people who had publicly identified with DSA. Sixty-five advanced to the November general election, across races in 24 states. The tally combines membership and organizational support. It also includes self-identification, so it is not a count of formal DSA members alone.
That tally comes as Michigan Rep. Hillary Scholten urges Democrats to consider which voters they risk alienating by embracing Democratic Socialists of America-backed politics too quickly. In a video obtained exclusively by The Post Millennial, she also expressed disappointment that New York Rep. Adriano Espaillat lost his primary to Darializa Avila Chevalier.
Scholten described Espaillat as a progressive and a barrier breaker. Low turnout made the result especially painful, she said. Some people told him afterward they regretted not voting.
Chevalier defeated Espaillat in New York's 13th Congressional District, which includes parts of Upper Manhattan and the Bronx. Chevalier received 36,292 votes and Espaillat received 33,555, a margin of 2,737. The district had 73,389 voters cast ballots. Its nearly 750,000 residents are a separate measure from the number who voted.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani backed Chevalier. She criticized Espaillat over his position on Israel and his acceptance of donations from AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobby. In a 2019 social media post, Chevalier said she had wiped her hand on an American flag after not having a napkin.
Other DSA-associated candidates also won primaries. New York Assemblymember Claire Valdez won the open Democratic primary for the seat being vacated by Rep. Nydia Velázquez. In Colorado, Melat Kiros defeated longtime Rep. Diana DeGette. WFMD described the New York results as part of a contest between DSA-aligned candidates and the party establishment.
Scholten said Democrats can keep fighting for progressive causes while paying attention to how voters respond to the movement's politics and policies. In remarks reported by Jewish Insider, she said DSA candidates appeal to voters by talking about health care and jobs. They also talk about fighting corruption. She warned that voters may not recognize what she described as underlying concerns about the U.S.-Israel relationship. She also raised antisemitism.
Scholten has not endorsed Abdul El-Sayed in his bid for Michigan's U.S. Senate seat. Her reservations concern El-Sayed's association with Hasan Piker, who has campaigned for him and other DSA candidates. Piker later walked back comments that America deserved 9/11. He has also used violent rhetoric about capitalist blood. Piker has worn clothing associated with Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong. In comments reported by YourNews, Scholten said El-Sayed had an opportunity to cut ties with Piker and directly disavow his words, but did not.
Michigan's 2026 Senate races offer a separate local election context. The Detroit News Editorial Board has endorsed candidates in six districts covering Macomb County, as detailed in this Macomb County race report.
