The founder and host of the left-leaning online show "The Young Turks" said Friday that populist progressives are the biggest story of the 2018 midterms.

"I think the rise of progressives is the biggest storyline there is," Cenk Uygur told Hill.TV co-hosts Krystal Ball and Buck Sexton on "Rising."

"Whether it's Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, or Kara Eastman, or Randy Bryce, Richard Ojeda -- real populist progressives that are willing to actually fight for the progressive message, rather than the lukewarm establishment Democrats" he said, referring to candidates running for House seats in the Nov. 6 elections.

The Democratic Party's midterm primaries saw the rise of various progressive candidates, most notably 29-year-old Ocasio-Cortez's defeat of longtime Democratic incumbent Rep. Joe Crowley Joseph (Joe) CrowleyHillicon Valley: Election officials prepare for new Russian interference battle | 'Markeyverse' of online fans helps take down a Kennedy | GOP senators unveil bill to update tech liability protections 'Markeyverse' of online fans helps take down a Kennedy The Hill's Campaign Report: Trump visits Kenosha | Primary day in Massachusetts | GOP eyes Minnesota as a battleground MORE in New York's 14th Congressional District.

"We taught them a lesson with Crowley, and we taught them several lessons, and we're going to keep on teaching them lessons," Uygur said.

He went on to say that candidates such as Ojeda have been successful not necessarily because they are liberals but because they are populists.

"It's not because he's the most progressive candidate, but he's a populist, and he closed a 40 point lead in the 3rd District of West Virginia. That is unheard of," Uygur said.

"Whereas [Sen.] Heidi Heitkamp Mary (Heidi) Kathryn HeitkampHarris faces pivotal moment with Supreme Court battle Centrists, progressives rally around Harris pick for VP 70 former senators propose bipartisan caucus for incumbents MORE [D-N.D.] is sitting there playing Republican light in North Dakota and getting her ass handed to her," he added.

A recent poll found that Heitkamp is trailing her GOP challenger, Rep. Kevin Cramer Kevin John CramerNetflix distances from author's comments about Muslim Uyghurs but defends project Abortion stirs GOP tensions in Supreme Court fight Momentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day MORE, by 16 points. President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden says voters should choose who nominates Supreme Court justice Trump, Biden will not shake hands at first debate due to COVID-19 Pelosi: Trump Supreme Court pick 'threatens' Affordable Care Act MORE won North Dakota by double digits in 2016.

— Julia Manchester