Primary results overnight show a party torn between socialists and moderates.
There's an old saying that a house divided cannot stand.
Right now, the Democratic Party looks like a house with two families fighting over the thermostat. One side wants socialism turned way up. The other side wants to keep things closer to normal.
Nobody agrees on the setting, and Tuesday night's primaries in six states put that fight on full display.
What The Primaries Showed
Tuesday's results were a mixed bag, and that is exactly why they matter.
In Wisconsin, moderate Democrat David Crowley narrowly beat self-described democratic socialist Francesca Hong for the party's governor nomination, preventing a democratic socialist from delivering another win for progressives in a battleground state.
Hong had faced criticism over past comments, including a call to abolish Thanksgiving, which Trump highlighted by name at his Las Vegas rally.
But in Minnesota, it was not close at all.
Progressive Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who has served as lieutenant governor under Tim Walz, Kamala Harris's running mate on the 2024 Democratic presidential ticket, crushed moderate Rep. Angie Craig by nearly 20 points.
That gap grew throughout the night after close early returns.
Flanagan told supporters afterward:
“You said Minnesota is not for sale, not now, and not ever!”
Craig had the backing of Nevada's own Senator Jacky Rosen, along with other “moderates” like Pete Buttigieg. That endorsement did not save her.
And just last week in Michigan, progressive Abdul El-Sayed beat a moderate congresswoman for the Democratic Senate nomination, another sign that the party's activist base is pulling harder to the left in some places, even as it pulls back in others.
Why This Matters To Conservatives
President Trump warned Nevadans about this trend when he rallied in Las Vegas on August 5. Speaking at Red Rock Resort, he did not mince words.
“Communism is the greatest threat to our Country in its history,” Trump told the crowd.
He went further, saying:
“Together, we will defeat Communism, Socialism, and Marxism in America once and for all.”
Governor Joe Lombardo, who spoke before Trump that day, tied the same argument straight to his own race against Attorney General Aaron Ford.
“The government doesn't have the ability to hand out infinite amounts of money,” Lombardo said.
“That's not how economies work. That's why they are pushing socialism so hard. But President Trump has changed that whole mindset.”
Lombardo also drew a line connecting Ford to California-style politics.
He wrote on social media that for the last three years he had fought every day to keep Nevada from becoming California, adding that Ford is proudly endorsed by Gavin Newsom and wants to bring California's failed, tax-and-spend agenda to Nevada, and pledging he won't let that happen.
For conservatives who believe in limited government, this is not just talk. It is a real question about whether the party across the aisle is drifting toward bigger government, higher spending, and less individual freedom.
What Happens Next
Nevada does not need to imagine what happens when the socialist wing gains ground here.
It already has the receipts. Nevada Democrats picked Bernie Sanders in a landslide in the 2020 caucuses, giving the self-described democratic socialist his most decisive win of that primary season.
A year later, Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates swept every leadership post in the Nevada Democratic Party, unseating the Harry Reid era establishment.
Judith Whitmer took over as chair, and the entire state party staff resigned within days. The infighting that followed did not stay behind closed doors.
Steve Sisolak became the only sitting governor in the country to lose reelection in 2022.
And this fall, Assembly District 41 candidate Vinny Spotleson has confirmed he's a dues-paying member of the Las Vegas DSA, telling a critic on social media:
“Bro I am a dues paying member of @lasvegasdsa. I have posted at their events. Not hiding anything.”
This is not a safe seat for either party to test that label. AD41 was Nevada's closest legislative race in 2024, decided by just 260 votes, the only district in the state where a Democrat and Trump both won.
Republican nominee Kelly Chapman is aiming to flip it this fall.
What You Can Do
Keep that history in mind as Lombardo makes his case this fall. Nevada is not a bystander in this national fight over socialism inside the Democratic Party. It was a state that has seen this ideology rise in the Democratic Party before, and it's back on the ballot.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
