After a socialist candidate won in the Bronx, the news media has spilled a lot of ink about how the Democrats are going too far to the left.

Someone should tell the Democratic Party establishment.

A good example is what happened in Rhode Island this week.



As it tries to fend off a progressive insurgency, the Democratic Party in one of the bluest states in the country is facing open revolt after endorsing candidates — including a Trump-voting former Republican — in primaries against three progressive women up for re-election this year.

...

The long-simmering fight burst into the open this week after the Rhode Island Democratic Party released its slate of endorsements, which critics say is aimed at punishing three women who ousted old-guard incumbents two years ago.

Meanwhile, the party stood by a lawmaker who has previously been indicted on charges of sexual assault and is accused of domestic abuse, and who is currently under indictment on perjury charges. It also backed a former lawmaker with multiple arrests on his record, including one in 1994 vehicular homicide, over the vice chair of the Rhode Island Democratic Party Women's Caucus.

While that sounds bad, it's actually much, much worse.



Moira Jayne Walsh, a 27-year-old former waitress and labor organizer, captured a bit of national attention after she won a seat in the Rhode Island House in 2016.

...On June 28, the Rhode Island Democratic Party endorsed challenger Michael Earnheart in a handwritten addition to a printed endorsement sheet submitted to Rhode Island’s Secretary of State. On his Facebook page, Earnheart describes himself as a “moderate” and responded to queries about his political positions in late May with statements of support for the “Second Amendment” and a promise to “defend against legislation that attempts to stop or interfere with lawful gun ownership.”

Some angry Democrats have been circulating screenshots from a Twitter user also named Michael Earnheart, who closely resembles the picture on Michael Earnheart’s Facebook page. In one exchange on May 26, whose authenticity was verified by Slate, Earnheart wrote on Twitter that undocumented immigrants are “self-entitled lawbreakers and thieves,” in response to a tweet from the Washington Post’s Radley Balko criticizing the Trump administration’s child-separation policy. In this thread, Earnheart also alleged that many liberal and left opponents of the Trump administration’s immigration policies “don’t believe in God.”

I gotta give the Democratic Party machine credit - they didn't go half-way in supporting Republicans over progressives.

It isn't just Rhode Island. Remember Dana Balter? She's trying to unseat U.S. Rep. John Katko in the 24th Congressional District race this fall.

The DCCC inserted a less progressive candidate in the primary, which Balter easily defeated. So with the choice coming down to Balter or a Republican, the DCCC hasn't endorsed anyone.

It's even worse in Florida, where the state party is in an all-out war to crush progressives.



The Florida Democratic Party is going all-in on marginalization of its progressive wing, risking its only statewide officeholder, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, any chance of recapturing the governorship, and pickup opportunities in the Florida Legislature. Ramifications of what are known in state Democratic circles as “the corporatist agenda” can easily filter down to the courthouse.

If the Democratic Party ever does become more progressive it'll only happen through a hostile takeover by the voters.