WATCH: House Dem clashes with Fox reporter over DSA win, Jeffries speaker bid
NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., sparred with Fox News correspondent Chad Pergram on Capitol Hill when pressed that the Democratic Socialists of America’s New York primaries this week could threaten Democratic unity and disrupt House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries’ path to speakership.
The exchange comes after the Democratic candidates in New York City this week, raising questions about whether the left wing of the party could confuse the messages of the Democrats and create new headaches for Jeffries if the Democrats regain control of the House.
Larson defended the right of New York voters to choose their nominees and repeatedly expressed confidence that Jeffries, D-N.Y., could manage any new ideological differences within the House Democratic Caucus, while saying he opposes anti-Semitism and admitting that some of the DSA’s positions are very un-American.
“Won’t it cause problems here on Capitol Hill? For Jeffries?” Larson was asked.
SOCIALISTS ENJOY ‘SHOCKWAVE’ LAST NIGHT AS DSA-SUPPLIED COUNCILORS WIN, LEAD ON MAPS
WASHINGTON – DECEMBER 5: Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., arrives for the House Ways and Means Committee’s “Hear from IRS Whistleblowers: Obstruction of the Hunter Biden Investigation on Their Behalf” at the Longworth House Office Building on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
“New York voters make up their own minds. We are not controlling the voters of New York. In America, a liberal Democratic-Republican, the people get to choose the representatives they choose,” Larson said in response. “The people of New York made a decision. The people of Wyoming also make decisions, the people of other states make decisions. That’s how democracy works.”
Pressed on whether DSA members coming to Capitol Hill would cause division and discord within the House Democratic Caucus, Larson said Jeffries will “bring everyone together,” arguing that he has been able to overcome many challenges so far and will do so again as he comes.
“Hakeem Jeffries is the greatest leader we can have, because he will bring everyone together, as he has done with 11 different, diverse and diverse caucuses in the Democratic caucus,” Larson replied.
Larson was then pressed on whether DSA-backed candidates could present a new kind of challenge to Jeffries, especially as he tries to become Speaker.
DNC CHAIR PLAYS SOCIALIST-MODERATE RIFT AS MAMDANI’S RISE MEETS ANOTHER
“There was an argument where, you know, if this had been Nancy Pelosi some years ago when she was in power, she would have been able to fine this — she’s never been Speaker,” Pergram said of Larson.
“After all, he was not the Speaker for a long time, but he did an excellent job when he became the Speaker. “Jeffries will be an outstanding Speaker because of his ability to bring people together,” said Larson.
“Is there any backlash in the caucus about — again, these are New Yorkers, [Jeffries] you’re from new york, right? Schumer’s from New York – that this can reduce some of them. If others in the party think these people are going to drag them too far to the left?” Pergram continued to press.
HAKEEM JEFFERIES TURNED INTO ‘FOLLOWING’ MUSIC FOLLOWING NY DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST WIN
Rep. John Larson-D, Conn, and House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, greet fans as they make their way to their seats at RFK Stadium during the annual congressional baseball game one year in DC. (Philip Scott Andrews/Roll Call/Getty Images)
“Hakeem Jeffries is going to be Speaker of the House, plain and simple,” Larson responded. “And why? Because he has shown his leadership and held the most diverse caucus ever assembled in the history of the world together. And that’s what he excels at, and that’s what we’re going to continue to do.”
Larson was also pressed on whether Democrats would distance themselves from candidates or groups suspected of having antisemitic views.
“Will you stand up to people if they have anti-Semitic views?” Pergram asked.
“The people of New York elected the people they elected,” Larson replied.
When pressed again, Larson said, “Am I against antisemitism? If that’s your question,” making it clear that he is against antisemitism while continuing to argue that voters have the right to choose their nominees.
DEMOCRATIC MP ISHEMBE MAMDANI, SAYS THE PARTY MUST HAVE ‘ZERO PATIENCE’ FOR ‘INTIFADA’ RHETORIC
Claire Valdez, Congressional candidate Brad Lander, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and Congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier raise their hands during the Get Out the Vote (GOTV) rally at King’s Theater on June 18, 2026 in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
The discussion continued as Larson was asked about the statement of the Democratic Socialists of America that he said he wanted to abolish the Senate and for the House to elect the president and the Supreme Court.
“That’s DSA,” Larson said. “The people of New York decide who their elected officials are. The people of Connecticut decide who their elected officials are.”
Asked if that sounded radical, Larson said, “A lot of people sound radical to me. Radical left. Radical right. What’s your point?”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM
“Should you come out and argue, ‘Hey, we shouldn’t have people, you know, fire the Senate. Abolish the Senate? That’s not very American,'” Pergram suggested back.
“I don’t think that’s an American person either,” Larson said before deflecting questions to another reporter.
