The first major primaries of the year are approaching, and they could determine whether a left-wing insurgency reminiscent of the Republican Tea Party wave takes hold within the Democratic Party. Voter anger at party leadership has fuelled a willingness to back more progressive candidates in safe seats, mirroring the dynamics that reshaped the GOP a decade ago.
In North Carolina's 4th district, a rematch is brewing between incumbent Representative Valerie Foushee and progressive challenger Nida Allam. Allam has criticised Foushee for accepting donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), totalling over $419,000 in the 2022 cycle, though Foushee has said she will no longer take such money. Allam, endorsed by Senator Bernie Sanders, represents a growing push for a more insurgent base against the traditional party coalition.
Texas's 15th district, a historically Hispanic border seat that flipped to Republican in 2024, is another battleground. The Democratic establishment backs Bobby Pulido, a former Tejano singer, aiming to reclaim the seat. However, progressive physician Ada Cuellar has attacked Pulido for being too lenient on immigration enforcement and insufficiently supportive of abortion rights, highlighting internal divides.
Illinois's 9th district primary on March 17th pits progressive streamer Kat Abughazaleh against Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, after longtime Representative Jan Schakowsky retired. Abughazaleh has criticised Biss for not calling the Gaza war a genocide, while Biss has faulted AIPAC for backing a rival candidate. Polls show Biss ahead, but the race reflects the party's frictions over Israel and Gaza.
New York's congressional primaries on June 23rd will offer further clues. The contests follow a contentious mayoral primary, underscoring persistent tensions between establishment and progressive wings. While no candidate details were provided at the time of reporting, the races are expected to test the strength of the insurgent movement.
