House Republicans are making warnings about communism a central part of their midterm-election message, seeking to portray the Democratic Party’s left wing as extreme. The strategy matters because Republicans are attempting to turn recent successes by democratic socialist candidates into a broader argument about the direction of the Democratic Party.

Republicans argue that some self-described democratic socialists support collective ownership of resources, while critics say the messaging conflates democratic socialism with communism. The campaign has gained momentum after several democratic socialist primary victories, including in New York City and a Denver congressional race, as Republicans seek to defend narrow congressional majorities.