Buttigieg sidesteps DSA questions, calls himself a 'Buttigieg Democrat' as socialist primary wins mount

WASHINGTON, July 26. Pete Buttigieg appeared on Fox News' "America Reports" Friday, declined to directly address Democratic Socialists of America policy positions such as abolishing the Senate and ending deportations, and described his own politics as those of a "Buttigieg Democrat," drawing criticism from former Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus. The former Transportation Secretary, a potential 2028 presidential contender, acknowledged some party members "go too far" but stopped short of a direct disavowal.

Buttigieg on the party's left wing

When pressed on the DSA platform, Buttigieg said disagreements exist but emphasized common ground. "There's always going to be some people in my party who go too far for me, people I disagree with," he said. "But there's so much that we do, in fact, agree on."

He also declined to place himself on the traditional left-right spectrum. "I'm a Pete Buttigieg Democrat. I think I'm a common-sense Democrat, but of course everybody thinks that their ideas are common sense to them," Buttigieg said. He drew a parallel between DSA candidates on the left and Trump on the right, arguing both draw support from voters who believe the political system is failing them. On a presidential run, he was direct: "I'm not running for anything."

Priebus presses on the non-answer

Priebus, a Fox News political analyst who served as both RNC chairman and Trump White House chief of staff, said Buttigieg failed to confront the socialist wing when given the opportunity. "The Democrats from where Pete Buttigieg is at, is aligning itself with people that are far outside the mainstream," Priebus said. "They're on the wrong side of normal, and he didn't really address that when he was pressed."

A University of New Hampshire Granite State Poll, published Wednesday, placed Buttigieg neck-and-neck with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., in a hypothetical 2028 primary matchup. Ocasio-Cortez, responding to similar questions in July about DSA proposals including abolishing the Senate, called it a "constitutional question."

DSA candidates reshaping Democratic primaries

The interview follows a run of DSA primary victories. In Colorado, Melat Kiros, a candidate backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, defeated longtime Rep. Diana DeGette in Denver's heavily Democratic district.

In June, a group of far-left candidates won New York primaries with backing from New York City's Democratic socialist mayor Zohran Mamdani. Among the winners: Darializa Avila Chevalier, who beat Rep. Adriano Espaillat, and Brad Lander, who defeated Rep. Dan Goldman.

Buttigieg said he is focused on other candidates, not his own ambitions. "A lot of people who generally prefer a Republican president still want to see some kind of balance, some kind of check, some kind of restraint, and are considering maybe for the first time in a long time, voting for a Democrat for Congress," he said.