WASHINGTON — Rep. Tim Burchett, a Tennessee Republican, said the Democratic Party has been "hijacked by the socialist left" during an appearance with Kayleigh McEnany on Jesse Watters' program.
Burchett singled out three potential 2028 Democratic presidential contenders—California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Vice President Kamala Harris and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York—calling each "a disaster for this country" and collectively "a nightmare for this country."
The congressman argued that the perceived divide between moderate and progressive Democrats is largely an illusion when it comes to legislative votes, and said a leftward shift fueled by U.S. college campuses drives the trend.
The remarks put an early marker down for the 2028 presidential cycle, even as the 2026 midterms approach. The Democratic Party has seen sustained internal debate over its direction, particularly between its centrist and progressive wings, on issues from economic regulation to social programs.
