Democrats in Key Senate Races Embrace 'Capitalist' Label

Democrats running in competitive Senate contests are increasingly stressing that they back capitalism, responding to Republican efforts to brand the whole party as socialist or communist. The shift comes as the Democratic Socialists of America gain visibility and left-leaning candidates rack up wins. Time reports that Texas nominee James Talarico, who faces Ken Paxton, and Michigan candidate Abdul El-Sayed both disavowed socialism in interviews.

The posture extends beyond individual campaigns. Sixty Democrats, ten of them sitting members of Congress, signed a summer Promise to America pledge stating, "We are capitalist, not socialist." Representatives Tom Suozzi and Adam Gray, the only Democrats who flipped districts Donald Trump carried in 2024, led the group.

Not everyone follows suit. Troy Jackson, who replaced Graham Platner as Maine's nominee in July with DSA support, did not say whether he considers himself a capitalist, though he has said he does not back the group's policies. In Florida, Vice President J.D. Vance said while campaigning that Democratic candidate Angie Nixon does not belong in America if she calls herself a socialist. Nixon joined the DSA in June but says she rejects some of its positions and identifies as a capitalist favoring strong regulation.

Summarized by PolitiKool from Time’s reporting. Read the full story at Time →