With the midterms looming as summer kicks off, the recent victory of Pennsylvania state Rep. Chris Rabb in the Democrat primary election for the 3rd Congressional District suggests that socialism remains strong on the left.
In the May 19th primary, Rabb defeated the so-called establishment candidate, state Sen. Sharif Street, a former Democrat Party Chair and proud partner of the Philadelphia political machine.
During the campaign, Rabb openly criticized the Democrat Party, blasted the status quo, earned endorsements from progressive groups like the Philadelphia Democratic Socialists of America and Our Revolution, received shout-outs from socialist superstars like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), praised New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and boldly ran as a democratic socialist.
Despite it all, Rabb cruised to victory, cementing his future seat in the U.S. Congress because he will almost assuredly run unopposed in the November election. Believe it or not, the Republican Party did not even host a primary election in this district.
When he arrives in Washington, D.C., early next year, Rabb will join ranks with the Squad, decry his own party, and stir the political pot with outrageous statements. This will give him media attention and likely make him more popular.
However, what will receive far less attention is an actual examination of the democratic socialist policies Rabb champions. What’s more, almost no thought will be given to the consequences, short- and long-term, intended and unintended, which will result from such policies based on more than a century of evidence.
According to his campaign website, Rabb will fight the “broken system that only works for the wealthy” and “guarantee families can access all the essentials we need to thrive.”
To achieve this Marxist utopia, what he calls an “affordable and accessible society for all,” Rabb supports what he calls “Universal Basic Guarantees: Medicare for All, Housing, Food and Water, Free Transit, High-Speed Internet, Childcare, Income, Jobs.”
But this alone cannot fix the broken system nor guarantee the essentials.
Rabb proposes “federal public works programs … for critical national efforts like infrastructure upgrades, green energy conversion, nature conservation, and more.”
This brings us to his next platform pillar: the “climate crisis.”
“As we continue to face the increasing impacts of climate change, we need action now,” he declares.
“Decarbonizing our economy is not just good for the environment and our health and safety, it will also strengthen economic opportunity for so many of our most vulnerable communities.”
As such, Rabb advocates for “The Green New Deal,” “Green Union Jobs,” “Civil Climate Corps,” “No Hyperscale Data Centers,” and a “Just Transition to 100% Renewable Energy.”
It bears repeating that Rabb desires a “decarbonized society.”
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It also merits mention that Rabb endorses packing the Supreme Court, which would theoretically rubber-stamp the Democrats' patently unconstitutional policies and programs, thereby averting the constitutional amendment process.
In short, Rabb wants to fundamentally change the relationship between individuals and the federal government in the United States.
His “universal basic guarantees” would flip the script of the Constitution, reversing the founding ideal that the federal government should only be granted limited, enumerated powers.
It would irrevocably alter the relationship between individuals and the state, morphing the national government from a rights-protecting entity to a rights-granting entity.
The sheer cost of this program is incalculable and obviously unaffordable. However, the arithmetic is not the only problem.
If the U.S. government ever did supply “universal basic guarantees,” would the incentive to work not drop like a stone? Would the economy keep humming for long?
Likewise, the revitalization of public works programs possesses its share of pitfalls. Never forget that the money spent by the government is collected from the private sector. Also, never forget that the free-enterprise system, individuals, and for-profit corporations have historically done a far better job allocating precious resources than command-and-control systems.
The New Deal, with its mighty federal works programs, never lived up to FDR’s billing because “make work” programs misallocate economic resources.
Most of all, Rabb’s climate alarmism and demand for the decarbonization of society deserve scrutiny. Overwhelmingly, decades of data show no “increasing impacts of climate change.”
Scaring a generation of susceptible children and young people that the world will end soon because of climate change for political purposes is grotesque.
Sadly, that is the reality we live in. The Green New Deal, which will supposedly end climate change, has been at the forefront of the democratic socialist agenda since 2018. Naturally, Rabb champions the FDR-brand knockoff.
The Green New Deal is the democratic socialist crown jewel. In one fell swoop, it would codify into law a chunk of Rabb’s “universal basic guarantees.” It would certainly address Rabb’s fixation with decarbonization by banning the use of fossil fuels and imposing a green transition.
It would also single-handedly destroy the integrity of the U.S. power grid, bring transportation to a near standstill, and potentially lead to countless deaths when electricity reliability becomes a luxury/privilege.
The Department of Energy plainly states, “Petrochemicals derived from oil and natural gas make the manufacturing of over 6,000 everyday products and high-tech devices possible.”
Modern society’s most vital elements, like health care, food production, building and home construction, communications, transportation, etc., all require fossil fuels. Without fossil fuels, there is no modern society.
On one hand, Rabb tells voters what they want to hear, that he will build an affordable and accessible society for all. On the other hand, his policies would do quite the opposite.
Alas, Chris Rabb, another dedicated democratic socialist, is heading to Congress.
Make no mistake, from Seattle to New York City, democratic socialism is on the march. More than likely, even more democratic socialists will enter Congress after the 2026 midterm elections.
By the looks of it, the democratic socialists are primed for 2028, at least according to early polls.
Chris Talgo ([email protected]) is editorial director at The Heartland Institute.
Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
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