Democratic strategist James Carville called for a party “schism” after democratic socialist candidates backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani won three primary victories on June 24, signaling deepening tensions within the Democratic Party over its ideological direction.
Three Mamdani-endorsed progressive challengers swept the New York primary races, defeating two incumbents including the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. The most prominent victory came when Darializa Avila Chevalier, a 32-year-old community organizer and democratic socialist, defeated five-term Representative Adriano Espaillat in New York’s 13th Congressional District.
Carville expressed his frustration on the “Politics War Room” podcast, which he co-hosts with journalist Al Hunt. “I have the quote right here,” Carville said of Avila Chevalier. “She has attacked interracial relationships and the American flag. Lady, I ain’t in the same party as you. I’m sorry. I’m just not, and I actually do think it’s time for Democrats to talk the ‘s’ word: ‘Schism.’ I really do,” according to Fox News.
The candidate has since disavowed those earlier positions. Carville nonetheless proposed that the party “negotiate the terms of a schism” with democratic socialists, saying “I’m done. And I’m not in that f—ing political party.” He elaborated that he is comfortable with a party that questions Israeli government policies, but not one that denies Israel’s right to exist.
Carville’s call reflects broader establishment alarm over a leftward shift in Democratic primary voting. Politico reported that “leftist candidates swept a trio of deep-blue House seats in New York City, a seismic victory that toppled two incumbents,” and noted that progressives have “romped through Democrats’ spring primaries, notching a series of wins across both safe and competitive districts.” The Democratic Socialists of America, which endorsed Mamdani’s slate, has emerged as a formidable political force in New York.
Carville is not alone in his concerns. CNN reported that “one Democratic lawmaker sitting in a battleground district told CNN that they are so concerned about the rise of the Democratic Socialists of America that they have recently begun having serious conversations with donors about leaving the party altogether.” Jaimie Harrison, former chair of the Democratic National Committee, also pushed for a split, arguing that candidates who hate the Democratic Party should not run for its nomination.
The internal Democratic conflict mirrors past intra-party disputes but with new urgency. Hunt, Carville’s podcast co-host, warned that if Democrats do not win a sweeping victory in November, “that group of crazies” could “sabotage Hakeem Jeffries every step of the way.” However, he acknowledged that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, initially controversial, eventually became a productive party member—a potential trajectory he said he does not foresee for the new cohort of democratic socialist winners.
Sources
- Fox News — Carville’s direct quotes from “Politics War Room” podcast episode on the Mamdani-backed candidates and his call for Democratic schism
- The Nation — Reporting on establishment Democratic panic over leftist primary wins and Carville’s statements about the party schism
- Politico — Coverage of the New York primary sweep and progressive victories across Democratic primaries
- CNN — Reporting on Democratic lawmakers’ concerns about the rise of the Democratic Socialists of America
