DSA’s shoddy midterm performance is proof voters want moderation, not socialism

Democrats won a strong midterm victory, but the opinion article argues that voters did not endorse a move towards Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) politics. It says progressive candidates generally underperformed more moderate Democrats, suggesting voters want change from the Trump-era status quo without a socialist agenda.

The article cites Michigan progressive Abdul El-Sayed, who won by seven points but ran two points behind governor-elect Jocelyn Benson and four points behind the state House result. It contrasts that with Georgia Senator John Ossoff’s 18-point margin, and says a Third Way analysis found seven centre-left Democrats averaged five points ahead of their states’ Democratic House vote while DSA-leaning candidates averaged five points behind. The author also warns that treating the result as a mandate for sweeping change risks repeating politicians’ past overclaims about voters’ intentions.