The Democratic Party’s internal debate over its ideological direction was on full display Tuesday as Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) delivered an unusually blunt assessment of some candidates affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America.
Appearing on CNN’s News Central, Smith was asked about Darializa Avila Chevalier, a Democratic Socialist who recently secured her party’s nomination for a U.S. House seat. Rather than focus solely on her candidacy, Smith used the opportunity to draw a distinction between what he views as the broader energy driving Democratic primary voters and the platform embraced by some candidates on the party’s far left.
Smith argued that many Democratic voters are looking for something entirely understandable: younger leadership, a more aggressive challenge to President Donald Trump, and stronger action on economic inequality.
“There are two big things that are going on here that need to be separated,” Smith said.
According to Smith, one side of the conversation reflects a growing desire within the Democratic coalition for fresh faces and a stronger populist economic message. He said he agrees with much of that sentiment, pointing to concerns about wealth concentration, expanding economic opportunity, and the need for Democrats to prosecute their case against Trump more effectively.
“I completely agree,” Smith said. “We need new, younger, more energetic leaders.”
But Smith argued that some Democratic Socialist candidates go well beyond those priorities.
“When you look at some of these Democratic Socialists that are running, their ideology is vastly more radical than that,” he said.
Smith cited what he characterized as expressions of support for communism, open borders, defunding the police, and what he described as “a fundamental attack on America itself and the premises behind it.”
He warned that candidates may attract support by campaigning on broadly popular themes such as fighting economic inequality and challenging Trump, while simultaneously advancing policy positions that he believes are both unpopular with voters and harmful from a governing standpoint.
“It’s dangerous that people come in and say, hey, I’m going to fight Trump, I’m new, I’m going to get after income inequality,” Smith said, before arguing that they are also “pushing ideas and agendas that are not popular in this country, and, frankly, not good policy.”
Smith specifically pointed to immigration enforcement, criminal justice, and what he described as the importance of personal responsibility and accountability as areas where he believes some Democratic Socialist proposals fall short.
CNN co-host John Berman followed up by asking Smith to clarify what he meant when he described those ideas as “dangerous.”
“Dangerous to whom?” Berman asked.
Smith responded by framing the issue as one of public policy rather than political rhetoric.
He argued that eliminating immigration enforcement would create significant problems, that reducing or eliminating police funding would undermine public safety, and that promising expansive government benefits without sufficient funding mechanisms would prove difficult to sustain.
“I think not having any immigration enforcement creates problems,” Smith said. “I think not actually funding the police and having a criminal justice system creates less security.”
He also questioned whether policies centered primarily on expanding government benefits could remain fiscally viable over time.
“I also think that if you take personal responsibility and accountability out of it and just say we’re going to give free stuff to everybody, then you have a problem making that work from a funding standpoint,” Smith said.
For Smith, the alternative remains what he described as a traditional American formula: expanding opportunity while expecting individuals to work hard and follow the rules.
“Look, it’s work hard, play by the rules, get ahead,” he said. “We need more opportunity.”
He concluded by reiterating that, in his view, the agenda promoted by some Democratic Socialist candidates represents a significant challenge for Democrats as they attempt to balance enthusiasm from progressive activists with broader electoral appeal.
“The agenda, as you just described, of some of these folks, is pretty radical and I don’t think good policy,” Smith said.
