Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville has described members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) as a "pack of fools" and "silly people" who "no one pays attention to." Carville dismissed concerns that socialists could be taking over the Democratic Party, arguing that the far-left faction will ultimately "not do anything."
Carville also offered praise for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., stating that she has evolved since her initial election to Congress in 2018. "I do think she's very talented. She's certainly to the left of me, but you know what she's doing? What I think good politicians do, she's growing into the job," Carville said during an appearance on "Jesse Watters Primetime." He added, "She's not the same person she was when she was elected in 2018, and when people change a position from what I think is a more naive position to a more realistic position, I'm going to praise them."
These remarks come as Democrats grapple with the influence of their progressive wing and consider its role in shaping the party's future, particularly heading into the midterm elections and the eventual 2028 presidential race. Ocasio-Cortez has been a central figure in these discussions, alongside other progressive candidates who have achieved victories in high-profile Democratic primaries. The DSA has also been working to increase its representation in elected office.
Despite these ongoing debates, Carville expressed optimism about the Democratic Party's talent pool and its future. He predicted that Democrats would win both chambers of Congress in the upcoming November midterms. "There's so much talent in this party people are gonna be blown away after we get past '26 and start running [people]... and the people that we're talking about [progressives] are not going to do anything," he stated.