During a recent episode of MS NOW’s State of Play, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, a Democrat, stated that his arms were wide open, welcoming candidates running for public office across the U.S. that were members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). The reason for the warm embrace? The presence of the DSA members makes the party debate ideas.
State of Play host Peter Alexander opened up the interview by saying, “There’s a conversation happening among Democrats, and I’m sure a lot of people sitting listening to this conversation right now, who have these real concerns about the sort of divide they’re experiencing within the party between the more progressive candidates and the more moderate, more centrist candidates.”
“The fear is that ultimately it may cost the party some seats, some governors’ mansions. You saw that Abdul El-Sayed, someone you supported, obviously won what was a really close race against a more moderate Senate candidate in the state of Michigan. Right now in Wisconsin, Francesca Hong is facing some similar concerns,” Alexander added.
He then asked Ellison, “What do you make of that concern, and how do you satisfy those more centrist Democrats and independent-minded folks, in states like your own right now, who are having that real debate within their own head?” The attorney general responded, “I think the debate is great. I think it’s an important debate to have. Democratic, ‘big D’ Democrats are being democratic ‘small D,’ meaning that we’re debating ideas.”
He then went on to say that the best way forward for Democrats, the best way for the party to evolve, is to have important conversations about how best to ensure Americans can live with dignity, safety, and respect. “What’s the best way forward to make sure that Americans can afford their lives and live with dignity, safety and respect? That is the discussion we should be having,” he told Alexander.
Ellison then said that the inclusion of Democratic Socialists of America candidates isn’t a bad thing. “And so I don’t see it as a bad thing. I believe, just like in Michigan, you notice Abdul El-Sayed and Haley Stevens came together right after the election. We’re going to do the same here in Minnesota. And I’m going to tell you that it is not a bad thing for us to discuss ideas,” he explained.
“How do we get more health care for more people? How do we lower prices, and how do we stand up for everyone’s rights? That’s a good debate. That’s not a bad debate,” he concluded his answer, according to Breitbart News. In July 2026, the DSA released an update to its party platform calling for extreme and drastic changes to our government and our way of life.
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The DSA suggested that it’s time to crumple up the Constitution and write a new one. They called for the abolition of the Senate, the Supreme Court, and the office of president. The new platform also suggested that all permanent U.S. residents be granted the right to vote. While these ideas seem far-fetched and highly unlikely to come to fruition, several DSA candidates have won Democratic primaries in races across the country, moving them up to the general election this November, demonstrating they pose a real threat to the future of the republic.
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