Schumer’s Nightmare Deepens as Socialist Insurgents Strike Again

Liberty Check

• Senate Democrats fracture as radical leftists defeat Schumer-backed candidates in two major primaries, threatening establishment control
• Democratic Socialists advance despite defund-the-police baggage and anti-Thanksgiving extremism exposed on campaign trail
• Generational purge continues as Democrats oust seventh longtime incumbent, signaling party’s desperate shift away from aging leadership

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer suffered another devastating blow this week as progressive challengers dealt the party establishment a second consecutive knockout in high-stakes primary battles across the Upper Midwest.

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan crushed moderate Rep. Angie Craig by 20 points to claim the Democratic Senate nomination, the latest victory for the socialist wing trying to remake the party in its radical image. The result follows last week’s upset in Michigan, where Democratic Socialists of America member Abdul El-Sayed narrowly defeated Schumer-backed Rep. Haley Stevens.

The Wisconsin gubernatorial primary delivered a rare establishment win, but only barely. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley edged out democratic socialist state Rep. Francesca Hong in a nail-biter that polls had predicted would be a blowout for the left-wing candidate.

Hong’s campaign became a national spectacle after resurfaced social media posts revealed her calling to “cancel Thanksgiving” to “stop celebrating colonialism” and advocating to defund and abolish police departments. Despite walking back those positions under pressure, the damage was done.

“I know we don’t have the final results right now but I do know we are ready to keep fighting,” Hong told supporters before conceding defeat.

The former chef and DSA member ran on a platform demanding a $20 minimum wage, guaranteed paid leave, and a moratorium on AI data centers. She enjoyed backing from prominent progressives including Rep. Ilhan Omar and Rep. Ro Khanna, though notably Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stayed out of the race.

Crowley benefited from retiring Democratic Gov. Tony Evers campaigning alongside him in the final stretch, warning voters that Hong was unelectable. Republican-aligned super PACs poured millions into boosting Hong, viewing her as the weakest general election candidate. That strategy nearly worked.

Crowley will face Rep. Tom Tiffany, a conservative House Freedom Caucus member backed by President Trump, in November. The race is now considered competitive in the battleground state.

In Minnesota, Flanagan’s dominant victory poses serious problems for Schumer’s operation. She earned endorsements from Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren and has openly stated she would not support Schumer remaining as Democratic leader if elected in November. It’s been 24 years since Republicans won a Senate race in Minnesota, but Flanagan’s left-wing record may change that.

Craig’s defeat marks the second major setback for Schumer in eight days. The longtime Democratic power broker is watching his preferred candidates fall to insurgents who reject his leadership and embrace policies most Americans oppose.

The generational civil war within Democratic ranks claimed another victim as well. Rep. John Larson of Connecticut, in Congress for nearly three decades, lost his primary by double digits to former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin.

“John Larson is a good man, but he’s been in Congress since the 90s. The stakes are just too high to keep doing the same thing,” Bronin argued in campaign ads.

Larson, 78, tried to defend his record but couldn’t overcome voters demanding younger leadership. The 47-year-old Bronin becomes the seventh successful challenger to oust a Democratic incumbent this primary season, joining wins over Reps. Al Green of Texas, Diana DeGette of Colorado, Adriano Espaillat of New York, and Shri Thanedar of Michigan.

“We are a country in absolute crisis. We need our toughest fighters. I’ve taken on Trump, DOGE, and ICE, and won,” Larson wrote in a desperate final appeal that fell flat.

The generational battle intensifies in two weeks when 47-year-old Rep. Seth Moulton challenges 80-year-old Sen. Ed Markey in Massachusetts’ Democratic Senate primary. Party elders are running scared.

President Trump’s influence on Republican primaries remained strong but not absolute. In South Carolina’s special Senate primary to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, Trump-backed appointee Darline Graham led the field but fell short of the 50% threshold needed to avoid a runoff.

“I want to thank President Trump, his steadfast support and his complete and total endorsement means so much to me. He knows that I will stand with him and fight for his agenda, just like Lindsey did,” Graham told supporters.

She’ll face Rep. Ralph Norman, also a Trump ally, in a runoff election in two weeks. The winner will be heavily favored in the general election in solidly red South Carolina against Democratic nominee Annie Andrews.

Trump’s endorsement power faced questions after Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, whom he backed for South Carolina governor, lost her runoff in a landslide to Attorney General Alan Wilson. Trump endorsed Wilson as well before that runoff, ensuring a win either way.

In Minnesota, Trump suffered a rare endorsement loss. MyPillow founder Mike Lindell, a close Trump ally who questioned the 2020 election results, fell short in the Republican gubernatorial primary to state House Speaker Lisa Demuth.

Elsewhere, Wisconsin Rep. Tom Tiffany, a conservative House Freedom Caucus member, cruised to the GOP gubernatorial nomination with Trump’s backing. He’ll face Crowley in November’s general election.

The Democratic Party’s identity crisis accelerates with each primary. Establishment figures like Schumer are losing ground to radical socialists who want to transform America. Moderates are being purged. The party is eating itself from within.

The Constitution must be defended.