Socialist Democrats Prepare to Enter Congress After Midterms

A wave of progressive challengers is poised to reshape the Democratic Party's presence in the US House of Representatives following the 2026 midterm elections. Six candidates, several affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), are projected to enter Congress next year after defeating established Democrats in primary contests across New York, Michigan, Colorado and Pennsylvania.

The projected Democratic takeover of the House majority could create an additional challenge for party leaders. Several incoming lawmakers have withheld their support for Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries as the next House speaker, citing disagreements over progressive policy priorities.

Among the incoming representatives is Darializa Avila Chevalier, who is projected to represent New York's 13th congressional district, covering Upper Manhattan and parts of the Bronx. She defeated Rep. Adriano Espaillat, chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, during a broader anti-incumbent wave in New York.

Chevalier, born in Florida to Dominican Republic immigrant parents, previously attended Columbia University. She also attracted criticism over a now-deleted social media post concerning the American flag.

She has not committed to supporting Jeffries for speaker, telling Vanity Fair that she wanted specific policy assurances.

Chevalier said she would need certain "commitments" on progressive priorities such as Medicare for All.

Claire Valdez, another DSA member, is projected to succeed retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez in New York's 7th congressional district, which covers parts of Brooklyn and Queens. Valdez currently serves in the New York State Assembly.

Her campaign website describes her as a citizen of two nations.

Valdez identifies herself as a "dual citizen of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Nation and the United States."

She has also declined to make an early commitment regarding Jeffries' speakership bid. In an interview with New York Magazine, she explained her position.

Valdez said she would not "negotiate in public" and wanted to "see how the midterms shake out."

In Michigan, Donavan McKinney is projected to represent the state's 13th congressional district, which includes parts of Detroit and surrounding suburbs. He secured the Democratic nomination by defeating Rep. Shri Thanedar, with support from DSA members and Rep. Rashida Tlaib.

McKinney identified Medicare for All, universal childcare and removing corporate money from elections as major policy priorities in an interview with Jacobin Magazine. Israel was also a central issue in his primary campaign.

Colorado's 1st congressional district is projected to send Melat Kiros to Washington after she defeated longtime Rep. Diana DeGette in the Democratic primary. DeGette had represented the Denver-area district since 1997.

Kiros, a 29-year-old former attorney and DSA member, was born in Ethiopia. Her campaign website says her father was selected through the US Diversity Visa Lottery shortly before her birth.

Her position on Israel generated controversy during the campaign. According to multiple reports, Kiros described the October 7 Hamas attack as an "inevitable" consequence of Israel's actions and opposed Israel's existence as a Jewish state.

Pennsylvania state lawmaker Chris Rabb is also projected to enter Congress, representing the state's 3rd congressional district. The Democratic socialist has advocated sweeping changes to US foreign policy and domestic economic programs.

Rabb's campaign website calls for the United States to "immediately dismantle the military industrial complex, cease all imperialist foreign policy, and end all U.S.-led efforts for regime-change," alongside proposals for universal basic income, guaranteed housing, high-speed internet and free public transportation.

His platform also includes establishing "national grocery stores." Rabb previously criticized established Democratic lawmakers during an August appearance on CBS's Face the Nation.

Rabb said, "I think listening to folks who have been institutionalists and corporate Dems is probably the wrong thing to do when what your own poll shows is that there is an exhaustion."

Former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander is another projected incoming representative, representing New York's 10th congressional district, which includes downtown Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn. Although he previously left the DSA over its response to the October 7 Hamas attack, prominent socialists, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, supported his campaign.

Lander defeated a political establishment-backed rival in a contest that highlighted divisions between progressive and socialist factions in New York. Unlike several other incoming progressive lawmakers, he has indicated that he is inclined to support Jeffries for House speaker.