Fox News host Jesse Watters argued Thursday that Democratic Party leaders could escalate their efforts against progressive candidates by encouraging damaging allegations as a growing number of left-wing contenders continue to score primary victories.
Watters made the remarks during Jesse Watters Primetime while discussing recent wins by progressive Democrats in primary elections across the country, including Michigan U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed.
El-Sayed, who does not identify as a socialist but has promoted progressive policies, narrowly defeated establishment-backed Rep. Haley Stevens in Tuesday’s Democratic Senate primary by a single percentage point. His victory came despite being heavily outspent during the campaign.
According to the report, Stevens benefited from a spending advantage of roughly nine to one, driven in large part by a $31 million advertising campaign funded by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. The organization has said it intends to oppose El-Sayed’s bid against Republican Mike Rogers in the November general election.
The success of progressive candidates has reportedly created growing tensions within Democratic circles, particularly among establishment figures. The article notes that longtime Democratic strategist James Carville has voiced frustration with the party’s leftward movement, even threatening to leave the Democratic Party after several up-and-coming candidates appeared alongside left-wing Twitch streamer Hasan Piker during their campaigns.
During his Fox News program, Watters suggested that victories like El-Sayed’s could increase the influence of progressive candidates nationwide.
“If Abdul wins a general in the Rust Belt, he’s gonna have street cred,” Watters said before pointing out to viewers that El-Sayed is Muslim. He then added, “And Muslim fever is gonna spread.”
Elsewhere during the segment, Watters referred to El-Sayed as “the Michigan Muslim” while discussing what he characterized as concern among Democratic leaders over the growing strength of progressive candidates.
“The establishment is ordering a code red, calling this a mortal danger to the party,” Watters said. “They’ve even cobbled together a war room to do opposition research on every single commie up and down the ballot.”
He continued by claiming Democratic leaders were approaching progressive candidates the same way they have traditionally targeted Republicans.
“They’re treating the commies like Republicans,” Watters said before predicting that the candidates should prepare for serious allegations to emerge against them.
“So, commies, get ready to be accused of rape,” he said.
Watters also referenced Graham Platner, the former Democratic Senate nominee in Maine, who withdrew from his race after a woman accused him of rape.
“Platner,” Watters added. “Sound familiar?”
The comments came as Democratic primaries have highlighted an ongoing divide between the party’s progressive wing and its more establishment-aligned leadership. While several progressive candidates have secured notable victories in recent elections, some longtime Democratic figures have openly expressed concern about the direction of the party and the growing influence of candidates aligned with more left-wing policies.
Watters argued that Democratic leadership views the recent wave of progressive victories as a significant threat and suggested that party officials are intensifying opposition research efforts against those candidates. His remarks, however, reflected his own prediction about how the party establishment might respond and did not cite evidence that such allegations were being organized or planned.
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