Bill Maher says Dems 'well on their way' to blowing 2028 election after NYC socialist wins

WASHINGTON, DC: Political commentator and HBO host Bill Maher argued on Sunday, June 28, that the rise of the Democratic socialist wing in the party will cost it heavily in the upcoming midterms.

Maher took on the party after several socialist-backed Democratic candidates won their primaries in New York City, knocking off a few establishment leaders.

Bill Maher warns Democrats risk midterm losses

Bill Maher said the “really crazy” Democratic socialists who recently won primaries in New York City are a bad sign that the Democratic Party is “well” on its way to blowing the 2026 midterms – and perhaps the 2028 election as well.

The host of HBO’s 'Real Time' made the remark to reporters while walking on the red carpet to receive the Mark Twain Prize from the Kennedy Center on Sunday.

“The Democrats just elected three very-far-left Democratic socialists in New York, who are crazy. Like outright, really crazy,” Maher said. “So how are they going to blow it? I don’t know, but they’re well on their way.”

That quote stands out, as it comes on the heels of Maher’s month-old remark, where he said that the Democrats can’t blow it in the midterms even if they want to.

Socialist candidates all set for Congress

Maher was referring to three socialist candidates backed by NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) who won their Democratic primaries. Claire Valdez, Brad Lander, and Darializa Avila Chevalier all won their primaries. 

State Assemblywoman Claire Valdez of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) won the primary to succeed retiring Rep Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) in the 7th District, and Brad Lander defeated incumbent Rep Dan Goldman (D-NY) in the 10th District.

All are almost certainly heading to Washington to represent deep-blue districts.

The socialist wave was celebrated by Mamdani on election night and in interviews later in the week, but a number of establishment Democrats were unsettled by it.

One centrist House Democrat told Axios that 2027 would be a “headache” for the party with the socialists around, while another House Democrat reacted to the sweep by saying, “Holy s**t.”

Chris Murphy welcomes Democratic socialists in the party

“I want us to be a big tent party. I mean, I’ve been saying this for years. I think that it’s actually a sign of a party that is alive and growing when there’s a contest of ideas inside the party,” Sen Chris Murphy said in responding to the New York elections during an appearance on NBC’s 'Meet the Press'.

“So I’m not a democratic socialist, but I do believe that the Democratic Party has been historically way too timid in taking on corporate power. I think our party should have bigger ideas,” he added.

Murphy said a full-on switch to socialism shouldn’t be an objective for the Democratic Party but said the current version of capitalism cannot be sustained.