Democrats fear that a viral Fox News interview with Democratic Socialists of America co-chair Megan Romer could damage the party by giving Republicans material to portray it as extremist before the midterm elections. The concern reflects a wider dispute over the DSA’s growing influence in Democratic primaries and whether its agenda should be associated with the party as a whole.

Romer confirmed that the DSA platform supports abolishing the Senate and ICE, replacing the presidency and Supreme Court, reducing Pentagon funding, phasing out prisons and placing most large corporations under public ownership. She described ending national borders and prisons as longer-term aims, while arguing that the Senate is an outdated institution and defending DSA candidates’ use of Democratic ballot lines because third-party access is difficult.