John Kennedy mocks Democrats as socialist wing gains ground, says they are 'proof evolution is slow'

WASHINGTON, DC: Louisiana Senator John Kennedy blasted the Democratic Party, mocking the party's progressive or socialist wing as he reiterated his trademark colloquial humor to blast the party's leadership.

During an appearance on Fox News on Thursday, June 25, Kennedy said that Democrats are “living proof that evolution is a slow process,” adding that “listening to them lowers my IQ.”

During the brief television appearance, Kennedy essentially argued that progressive candidates are gaining influence inside the Democratic Party, and party leaders are struggling to stop them.

Kennedy’s statement follows recent primary wins by socialist-backed candidates, arguing that most Americans will reject that direction.

Republicans often use the term "socialist" as a political attack to characterize progressive Democrats as outside the mainstream.

"The Bolsheviks are in charge of his party, and they're stone cold crazy,” Kennedy further added, comparing today's progressive Democrats to far-left revolutionaries to argue that the party's further shift to the left.

Republicans have seized on the recent primary wins to fuel a broader debate over the party's ideological direction and increasing pressure on Democratic leaders to respond.

John Kennedy mocks Democrats over leftward shift

This is not the first time the senator has taken on the progressive wing.

He also famously quipped that Democrats are "living proof evolution is a slow process" when criticizing the party's shift to the left.

During a US Senate floor speech and subsequent press appearances surrounding an impending government shutdown, Sen Kennedy stated: "Well, the shutdown melodrama continues... I said the other day that this shutdown is just further proof that human evolution is a slow, slow process.

"This shutdown—what you're witnessing now—is just further proof of why it took human beings thousands of years to learn how to stand upright," he added.

Progressive surge challenges Democrats' moderate identity

Recently, several Democratic primary races have been won by candidates aligned with the party's progressive or Democratic socialist wing. In the New York Democratic primaries, candidates backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani secured major victories

These candidates generally support policies such as universal healthcare, higher taxes on the wealthy, expanded government programs, stronger labor protections, more aggressive climate policies, and greater government involvement in the economy, among others.

However, this contradicts the party’s long-claimed ideology of moderation.

The mainstream Democratic Party claims to follow moderate, capitalist, and coalition-driven ideology. On the other hand, progressive and socialist wings advocate for working-class solidarity, and this shift has created several fundamental rifts.