Pro-Israel moderate survives primary challenge by socialist insurgent

The far left on Tuesday suffered a high-profile setback at the hands of the center-left establishment in the battle for the Democratic Party's ideological future.

Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)-backed Oliver Larkin was downed by more moderate Rep. Jared Moskowitz in the Democrats' primary in Florida's 25th District, the Associated Press reported.

The heavily redrawn congressional swing district is among roughly two dozen House seats that will likely determine whether Republicans hold onto their razor-thin majority in the midterm elections.

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Oliver Larkin, a self-identified DSA member, is challenging incumbent Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla. in Florida's Tuesday Democratic primary election. (Joe Raedle / Al Drago)

The 33-year-old Larkin, a veteran of Sen. Bernie Sanders' 2016 Democratic presidential campaign, was the only DSA-endorsed House candidate running in a competitive congressional swing district.

Larkin said he supported abolishing the U.S. Senate, arguing in a Fox News interview that it's an "undemocratic institution." He has referred to Israel's ruling coalition as a "religious supremacist regime."

Moskowitz is a strong and vocal supporter of Israel and has advocated for robust U.S. military and security assistance.

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Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) is running for renomination in Florida's 25th Congressional District. (Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Congressional Integrity Project)

The two-term federal lawmaker, a former state representative and Florida FEMA director appointed by GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis, is running for re-election in the state's newly redrawn 25th Congressional District, a Broward County-anchored swing seat in the southeastern corner of the one-time battleground state that now leans red.

Moskowitz was backed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee as well as indirectly by AIPAC, a major pro-Israel political group. Larkin had backing from prominent far-left figures, including controversial political streamer Hasan Piker.

"Democratic socialism can win in any district, in any race, for any office all across the country," Larkin told Fox News this past weekend. He added that was "very proud" to be carrying the "torch forward as a DSA candidate."

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Oliver Larkin, a DSA-backed Democratic candidate for Congress in Florida’s 25th district, speaks during a town hall, on May 4, 2026 in Coral Springs, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

But Larkin fell short, and Moskowitz will now face off in the general election against the winner of a Republican primary field that included Dan Franzese, Raven Harrison, Joe Kaufman, former state Rep. George Moraitis, and former Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer.

Larkin's defeat was the second setback for the far left in a week, in this year's Democratic Party primaries.

In last week's Wisconsin's Democratic gubernatorial showdown, DSA-member Francesca Hong was upset by a razor-thin margin by Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who was backed by retiring Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.

But the same day, Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan downed moderate Democratic Rep. Angie Craig by roughly 20 points, to grab the party's nomination in blue-leaning but competitive state, in the race to succeed another retiring Democrat, Sen. Tina Smith.

Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed speaks to supporters at an election-night rally at the Majestic Theatre in Detroit, Mich., on Aug. 4, 2026. His race against U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens in the state Democratic primary ended too close to call. (Getty Images)

Progressives scored their biggest victory to date two weeks ago, when Abdul El-Sayed narrowly edged moderate Rep. Haley Stevens to capture the party's Senate nomination in battleground Michigan, in the race to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.

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Both El-Sayed and Flanagan were backed by top far-left leaders, including Sanders, the progressive champion from Vermont.