Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro warned Sunday that Democrats must confront a battle over the party's core beliefs after a socialist candidate backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani defeated longtime incumbent Representative Adriano Espaillat in a New York primary. Speaking on CNN's «State of the Union,» Shapiro said the party needs to have a healthy internal debate about its ideas and direction, something he argued has not happened since the 1992 election cycle.
«I think what our party has to go through that will be very healthy and something we've not really done since the 1992 election cycle is to have a battle over what we believe in,» Shapiro said. «To have a battle over the ideas that we are going to hold on to and campaign on and then deliver on as a way to make people's lives better.»
The governor's comments came after Darializa Avila Chevalier, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, defeated Espaillat in the Democratic primary for New York's 13th Congressional District. With more than 86% of the expected vote counted, Chevalier secured 49.4% of the vote to Espaillat's 45.9%, according to NY1. The district covers parts of Upper Manhattan, including Harlem, and parts of the Bronx.
Shapiro, a Democrat who has governed Pennsylvania since 2023, emphasized that the primary results in New York do not necessarily reflect a broader trend for the party nationwide. «Those were races in individual districts in a whole other state,» he said. «I think you're seeing very different-looking congressional races and certainly different Democratic candidates here in Pennsylvania.»
However, the governor stressed that candidates who generate activist enthusiasm must now prove they can govern effectively. «I think what is important are the people who are making a lot of noise, who are engaging in these performative politics, have to now figure out how to deliver results,» Shapiro said.
Shapiro argued that campaign rhetoric alone is insufficient for voters facing economic pressure, healthcare concerns, and rising cost-of-living issues. «It's one thing to speak in platitudes during a campaign,» he said. «It's a whole other thing to actually deliver for people who are genuinely hurting.»
When asked specifically about Chevalier, Shapiro made clear he had little in common with her political views. «Her district voted for her, but I have profound differences from that particular candidate,» Shapiro said. «And she's not someone who seemingly I would agree with on many things or that we share similar values.»
Chevalier's campaign website lists priorities including «Abolish ICE,» «Babies, Not Bombs,» «Medicare-for-all,» «Housing for All,» «Quality Education,» and «Fighting Corporate Greed.» She has faced criticism over past social media posts praising communism and Marxism, but has pushed back, saying the focus should be on the district's future. «My opponent wants to live in the past,» Chevalier told CNN. «I have grown considerably since the years since these tweets, and I am focused on our community and our community's future.»
Chevalier was one of three candidates backed by Mamdani, whom CNN described as «far left and Democratic socialist candidates,» to win primaries in New York. The victories have sparked debate within the Democratic Party about its ideological direction, with some moderates warning that far-left candidates could hurt the party's chances in general elections.
Shapiro's remarks align with those of other Democrats who have expressed concern about the party's leftward shift. Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania recently criticized the «dirtbag» wing of the party after the far-left victories, calling them an «orgy of socialism.» Comedian Bill Maher also issued a dire warning to Democrats about the midterm elections following the socialist primary wins.
Shapiro called on the party to focus on nominating candidates who can turn campaign promises into tangible results for voters. «I think we, as a party, need to find our way toward candidates who actually can deliver for people and make their lives better,» he said.
The internal debate comes as Democrats face a challenging political landscape. In Michigan, state Senator Mallory McMorrow announced Sunday that she is suspending her campaign for the U.S. Senate, leaving the Democratic primary as a two-way race between moderate Representative Haley Stevens, backed by Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, and left-wing candidate Abdul El-Sayed, endorsed by Senators Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The Michigan seat is a top Republican target and a must-hold for Democrats as they aim to regain the Senate majority from the GOP, which currently controls the chamber 53-47.
Shapiro's call for a party-wide debate reflects growing tensions between the party's progressive and moderate wings. The outcome of these internal struggles could shape the Democratic Party's message and strategy heading into the 2026 midterm elections.