NY socialist surge could push Dem voters to defect, GOP governor candidate predicts
Midterm Elections NY socialist surge could push Dem voters to defect, GOP governor candidate predicts
GOP gubernatorial hopeful Bruce Blakeman pointed to NY Mayor Zohran Mamdani's rise as evidence of the far-left shift
By
Amanda Macias Fox News
Published
June 25, 2026 9:01am EDT close 
Video They’ve lost control’: NY GOP gubernatorial candidate says Democratic establishment can’t stop socialist wing
New York Republican gubernatorial hopeful Bruce Blakeman says the Democratic establishment has surrendered to its socialist wing and warns voters are growing frustrated with the party's direction.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!FIRST ON FOX: Following a string of high-profile victories by socialist candidates, New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman warned the Democratic Party has veered too far left and predicted establishment Democrats will increasingly back Republicans.
Speaking exclusively to Fox News Digital in the wake of Tuesday's wins, Blakeman said the results underscored the growing influence of the party's progressive wing and exposed a widening divide within the Democratic coalition.
"The lunatic left has taken over the Democratic Party," he said just hours after three socialists backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani won their primaries in New York districts. "They've lost control of their party."
The rise of socialist victories against traditional Democrats have intensified debate over the Party's future and the growing influence of its far-left flank. Republicans have seized on those wins as evidence the party is moving away from moderate voters on issues such as taxes and public safety.
Socialist New York congressional nominees Darializa Avila Chevalier (L), Claire Valdez (C) and Brad Lander. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images; Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Blakeman, who is running to unseat New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, argued that socialists have effectively taken control of the Democratic Party, creating an opening for Republicans among moderate and working-class voters in the state.
"They've offered everybody free stuff," Blakeman told Fox News Digital, adding that progressive candidates are making unrealistic promises to voters. "They're never going to do what they say they're going to," he continued, warning that such proposals would ultimately prove impossible to deliver.
He argued voters are being sold an unrealistic vision in which "everything in New York could be free," while longtime Democrats increasingly feel disconnected from the party's recent direction.
"The traditional Democrats are going to vote for Republicans this year," Blakeman predicted. "They know their party has gone off the deep end."
The Republican hopeful pointed to Mamdani's meteoric rise as evidence of what he described as the growing influence of socialists within the party. Blakeman acknowledges that proposals such as government-run grocery stores and other publicly funded programs may be politically popular but claims they would ultimately fail to deliver on their promises.
"Free grocery stores, I mean, that's complete nonsense," Blakeman said. "Government should not be competing with the private sector."
FROM FREE BUSES TO CITY-OWNED GROCERY STORES, HERE ARE MAMDANI’S KEY ECONOMIC PROMISES
New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani celebrates during an election night event at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Nov. 4, 2025. (Angelina Katsanis/AFP/Getty Images)
Blakeman said many of the policies being championed by progressive candidates could harm small businesses and accelerate the outflow of residents and employers from New York. Instead, he argued, the state should focus on lowering taxes, reducing utility costs and creating a more business-friendly environment.
During his interview with Fox News Digital the night after sweeping socialist victories in New York, Blakeman accused Hochul of being just as radical and failing to stand up to the Democratic Party's left flank as progressive figures like Mamdani gain prominence.
"They're in league together," Blakeman said of Hochul and Mamdani. "I now call her Comrade Kathy."
Though he ran uncontested, Blakeman's campaign received a boost earlier this year when he secured President Donald Trump's endorsement as he seeks to unseat Hochul in deep blue New York, the president's longtime home state.
Asked about Trump's support, Blakeman said it's valuable but urged voters to focus on shared concerns such as affordability, public safety and lowering taxes.
Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County executive and Republican candidate for New York governor, received President Donald Trump's endorsement earlier this year. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Blakeman argued that the Democratic Party's growing embrace of socialist candidates could ultimately benefit Republicans, particularly among suburban and working-class voters who he believes feel increasingly disconnected from the party's priorities.
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"Traditional Democrats see their party going off the deep end. They don't like it," Blakeman said. "They're going to come on board with us because it's the only way to stop their party from becoming an extinct party."
Mamdani's office and Hochul's office did not respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment.
Amanda Macias covers the intersection of business, economics and politics, with a focus on how policy decisions shape markets, businesses and American workers.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
