Believe it or not this may happen.
After this year’s midterm elections, Democrats who support defunding the police will make up a larger portion of Congressional Democrats.
As pundits project House Democrats will experience significant shrinkage after this year’s midterms, far-left members — like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York — are unlikely to lose their seats, thanks to their deep blue districts.
If projections are correct, progressives will make up a considerable share of the caucus once Democrats lose seats. However, it’s not only the loss of districts that is set to strengthen progressives’ numbers, but AOC and her allies could add to their numbers. In blue districts, far-left Democrats are capturing the vote, winning primaries, or gearing up to win primaries.
Illinois
Kina Collins, a progressive challenger, is taking on Democratic Rep. Danny Davis, a longtime lawmaker who currently holds Illinois’ 7th Congressional District seat.
Collins, who has the support of AOC’s Justice Democrats, has made headlines for participating in a “Defund the Police” rally, which she filmed on Facebook live.
Collins hs also held other controversial views, wanting the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to be abolished, because “immigrant families are constantly living in a state of fear, and the physical and mental trauma is destroying the fabric of our society.”
New York
Justice Democrats have also thrown their support behind activist Rana Abdelhamid, a progressive challenger taking on Democratic Rep. Carolyn Maloney for New York’s 12th Congressional District.
Abdelhamid has also supported “Defund the Police” movements, directing her followers to donate to a Minnesota fund that posted bail for alleged rioters and violent criminals.
Texas
Greg Casar, a self-described democratic socialist, won his primary for Texas’ 35th Congressional District.
Casar, who is a former Austin city council member, led a 2020 call to reduce the city’s Police Department budget by $100 million. The following year, Austin reached a new city-wide murder of 89 murders.
Also in Texas is progressive candidate Jessica Cisneros, vying for Texas’ 28th Congressional District against Rep. Henry Cuellar. Cisneros hasn’t personally endorsed defunding the police, but she’s campaigned alongside Democrats who back the movement.
