The prevailing talking point among the Democrat establishment in recent weeks, in response to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) insurgency taking place, has been to tout the supposed "big tent" nature of the party, where all kinds of differing viewpoints are allegedly welcome.
That canned answer is quite revealing when one considers the interview DSA co-chair Megan Romer did with Fox News in late July, where the extremist DSA platform was laid bare for all to see: support for abolishing the presidency, the Senate, prisons, borders, the Supreme Court. And that's just for starters. Another DSA co-chair, Ashik Siddique, admitted in a different interview that "our goal is communism."
That's quite an agenda for Democrats to open the door widely to, but then again, that line was already crossed long ago, and the toothpaste can't be squeezed back into the tube.
READ MORE: The Democrat Spin on DSA Takeover Takes Shape—But It Raises Two Questions They Can't Escape
But though the "big tent" mantra has been doing a lot of heavy lifting for Democrats this election cycle, some of those same establishment types have made it a point to endorse the non-DSA-backed candidates, in races like the Michigan Senate primary, where the establishment is backing Rep. Haley Stevens (MI-11) and the Hasan Piker/DSA wing is supporting former Wayne County health dept. director Abdul El-Sayed.
It is Primary Day in Michigan, and unfortunately for Stevens' supporters, El-Sayed appears on track to sail through to the general. It is perhaps with that thought in mind that one of Michigan's most prominent establishment Democrats, Rep. Debbie Dingell (MI-06), has now started pivoting towards using softer, more "inclusive" language about El-Sayed while refusing to comment on his more extreme positions:
Democrat Rep. Debbie Dingell pledges to support Abdul El-Sayed — who called to defund the police — if he wins the Senate primary.
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) August 4, 2026
FOX: “If El-Sayed is the winner will you endorse him?"
DINGELL: “I will endorse the entire Democratic ticket.” pic.twitter.com/ZqSP14JrYE
Democrat Rep. Debbie Dingell disavows Abdul El-Sayed's platform but still supports him.
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) August 4, 2026
FOX: "Sayed has said that Israel should not exist…can you support that?"
DINGELL: "No..."
FOX: “How can you endorse him?"
DINGELL: “I have told Abdul exactly what I think…” pic.twitter.com/XPcLWcaf73
George Washington University law school professor Jonathan Turley watched the interview and shared his observations about Dingell's evasive nature:
Bill Hemmer just pressed Rep. Debbie Dingell on "how can you endorse" if El-Sayed is the nominee after he said this month that Israel does not have a right to exist. Dingell shrugged it off as one of many issues that they will simply have to disagree. Of course, this is in addition to abolishing ICE, effectively destroying the Supreme Court, wealth taxes, releasing criminals, and, of course, his continued embrace of virulent anti-Semite Hasan Piker. However, Dingell and others pledge that they will work for his election to the Senate...
...Hemmer continued to press Dingell, who was reduced to simply denouncing "labels" while shrugging off that El-Sayed is attacking borders, cops, and Israel. It is part of the delusion of the establishment that they can use these radicals to regain power but remain untouched.
...Hemmer continued to press Dingell, who was reduced to simply denouncing "labels" while shrugging off that El-Sayed is attacking borders, cops, and Israel. It is part of the delusion of the establishment that they can use these radicals to regain power but remain untouched.…
— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) August 4, 2026
So apparently the strategy for the establishment is going to be to ignore the more dangerously extremist positions these candidates hold while focusing on where they have "common ground," in hopes that will appease them, because the establishment is desperate to retake the House and the Senate.
But the appeasement won't work.
The DSA smells blood in the water, and they are not letting their feet off the gas this election cycle. A primary win by El-Sayed will only embolden them more, not cause them to be restrained. Further, if he wins the general election, all bets are off on what the DSA's next moves will be, which will not be to accept the "can't we all get along" message the establishment throws at them in the interest of "unity" and defeating the MAGA agenda.
As far as I'm concerned, Dingell has basically conceded defeat to the DSA, regardless of the outcome in the Michigan Senate race. Why? The Democrats have already been tossing cookies and dangling carrots in the DSA's direction for years, and the DSA, in turn, has used the Democrat Party as one of their main vessels with which to get their message out.
But, barring a disturbance in The Force, at least three more DSA members will likely win their fall House elections, something the media will celebrate, which in turn will help contribute to the rise in popularity of socialism among younger voters, who will put more of a demand on the establishment to crank out alternatives to the Dingell types.
In other words, the establishment Democrats can't win here. They can resist, which doesn't seem to be doing much good so far, or they can come to terms with the direction their base appears to want them to head, and roll with it.
The larger the DSA contingent gets in the House and Senate, the more power they'll hold. And there won't be anything establishment Democrats, who helped build and coddle this monster, will be able to do to stop it.
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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