Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) credited his primary victory Tuesday to a diverse coalition of voters in his South Florida district who, he said, have personally experienced socialism and want nothing to do with the far-left politics of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
Appearing on CNN’s The Source after winning his primary, Moskowitz offered a blunt assessment of why his district — which he described as 25% Jewish and 20% Hispanic — rejected his opponent, who made opposition to Israel a central campaign issue.
“People have escaped socialism,” Moskowitz said. “And when they hear folks from the DSA go on television and talk about how they want to abolish the Senate — which, don’t give Trump any ideas — and they want to get rid of prisons and no borders, most Americans hear that stuff and they say, what is going on?”
The congressman argued that the DSA’s most extreme positions are a political liability, especially in a district with deep ties to immigrants and refugees from socialist countries. He noted that media outlets, including Fox News, are eager to give DSA members a platform to air those views.
“These people go on Fox News, Fox News wants to book these people every single day if they could, so that these people can talk about how we’re just going to get rid of prisons and get rid of Article I of the Constitution,” Moskowitz said. “That’s not what the American people want. The American people want change. They want change, but they don’t want this sort of extremism.”
Moskowitz’s comments come as the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, particularly the DSA, has pushed for more radical positions on issues like criminal justice reform, immigration, and foreign policy. The congressman, a moderate Democrat, has often clashed with the party’s left flank, and his primary win suggests that such positions may not resonate with the electorate he represents.
He acknowledged that some voters in his district may have supported his opponent not out of ideological alignment, but as a protest against the status quo.
“There were a lot of people who didn’t vote for me tonight that maybe didn’t vote for socialism, but voted against the status quo and wanted to send a message,” Moskowitz said.
On the issue of Israel, Moskowitz noted that his opponent made opposition to U.S. support for Israel a “core issue” of her campaign. He argued that Florida voters rejected that stance, emphasizing that his district is “pro-Israel.”
“They want to hear about other things, other than Israel,” he said. “This is a pro-Israel district.”
A Broader Pattern?
Moskowitz’s remarks reflect a broader debate within the Democratic Party about the influence of the DSA and other left-wing groups. While some progressive Democrats have embraced DSA endorsements and policies, moderates like Moskowitz argue that such positions alienate key constituencies, including Jewish and Hispanic voters who have historically supported Democrats.
His district, which includes parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, has a significant population of Cuban-Americans, Venezuelan-Americans, and other immigrants from countries with socialist or communist governments. These voters, Moskowitz suggested, are particularly sensitive to rhetoric that echoes the policies they fled.
The congressman’s comments also highlight the delicate balance Democrats must strike in districts like his, where a strong pro-Israel stance is politically important. As the party debates its approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Moskowitz’s victory signals that, at least in South Florida, support for Israel remains a key electoral asset.
Moskowitz’s primary win solidifies his position as the Democratic nominee in the general election, where he will face a Republican challenger in November. His district is considered a Democratic stronghold, but Moskowitz is not taking anything for granted, emphasizing the need to focus on the issues that matter to his constituents.
“The American people want change,” he reiterated. “But they don’t want extremism.”
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2026/08/18/moskowitz-my-district-has-people-who-escaped-socialism-they-reject-dsa/