Cruz says Mamdani, AOC, Platner show Democrats’ leftward shift: ‘That’s where the energy is’

SUMTER, S.C. — Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said the Democratic Party has been “radicalized,” pointing to New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, Maine Senate hopeful Graham Platner and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., as signs of where the party is headed.

“Look, unfortunately, I think that’s the base of the Democrat Party,” Cruz told Fox News Digital. “If you look at who the Democrats are, they are Comrade Mamdani, they are AOC, they are Graham Platner, this communist Nazi oyster farmer. Who knew that even was a thing?”

“That is where the energy is in the Democrat Party. That’s where the money is. They’ve been radicalized.”

While on the campaign trail with South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson ahead of Tuesday’s closely watched Republican gubernatorial runoff against Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, Cruz accused Democrats of drifting away from the political center, saying the party is “motivated” by opposition to President Donald Trump.

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“Much of it is that they just hate President Trump,” Cruz said. “It’s really tragic to see that President Trump has been an extraordinary president, and yet the Democrats, all they are motivated by is hatred for him.”

Cruz added the Democratic Party has lost touch with the priorities of everyday Americans, who prefer “common sense” policies.

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“I don’t think that’s where most Americans are,” Cruz said. “I know it’s not where the people of South Carolina are, and I think people want common sense, and that ain’t the Democrat Party today.”

Cruz highlighted Platner, Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez as evidence of a shift.

Platner secured the Democratic Senate nomination in Maine this month despite a series of scandals, including inflammatory online comments made on Reddit, a well-publicized and now-covered chest tattoo that resembled a Nazi symbol, reports that he exchanged sexually explicit messages with several women while married, and allegations from ex-girlfriends involving rape fantasies, heavy drinking and violent episodes.

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The Marine Corps veteran, backed by prominent Democrats including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., as well as Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., denied the allegations and will now take on five-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November.

Mamdani’s rise began with his victory over Andrew Cuomo in New York City’s mayoral race last year, where the self-described democratic socialist campaigned on free bus service, city-owned grocery stores and taxing the wealthy, while drawing national attention for his criticism of Israel and support for Palestinian causes.

Now, Mamdani is using his influence to back socialist and progressive candidates Claire Valdez, Brad Lander and Darializa Avila Chevalier in New York primaries, testing whether his popularity can help push the Democratic Party further left.

Former bartender and democratic socialist Ocasio-Cortez defeated former Democratic Rep. Joe Crowley in New York’s 2018 Democratic primary and remains one of the Democratic Party’s leading voices.

The comments come as South Carolina Republicans head to the polls Tuesday in a high-stakes runoff that will determine the GOP nominee to succeed term-limited Gov. Henry McMaster.