13 Dems break with Mamdani-led socialists, sign 'Promise to America' for 'growth, competition, and broad prosperity'

13 moderate Democrats have announced that they will support a centrist initiative that is aimed at preventing the Democratic Party from tilting into socialism following the primary wins of three candidates in New York congressional districts that have the backing of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) as well as socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) is one of 13 Democrats who have signed the "Promise to America" initiative that commits candidates to centrist values of capitalism, fiscal discipline, strong borders, and pride in the United States.

“We’re seeing a lot of results from the country from the far left and the far right, and they’re organized. I mean, you have to give them credit,” Suozzi said, per the Washington Post. But “that kind of campaign and that type of ideology is not going to play with the people in our districts.”

The pledge states the Democrats are "capitalist, not socialist," want "safety, not lawlessness," and want to see "growth, competition, and broad prosperity." 

Suozzi appeared on Fox and Friends to talk about the initiative and pushing back against the far-left, saying, "You know there are certain things that I believe in that are not being reflected in the current environment, especially with some of these races on Tuesday. As we said in our pledge... we're for capitalism, not socialism. We're for safety, not lawlessness. We're proud of America, not ashamed of America — and we need to be promoting those things."

“They should not be the face of our party,” said Jessica Killin, who is running as a moderate Democrat in a swing district in Colorado. “We need to be organized and clear in our vision.”

Although they do not represent the majority of Democrats, DSA candidates have started to have success in elections after having been on the fringe of the party. Mamdani is a member of the DSA and the three primary candidates who won on Tuesday— Darializa Avila Chevalier, Claire Valdez, and Brad Lander.

Avila Chevalier has previously called for the abolition of prisons, police, borders, and said that she wiped her hands on the American flag instead of grabbing napkins.

The group of Democrats who signed onto the initiative also includes Reps. Kristen McDonald Rivet (Michigan), Adam Gray (California), Susie Lee (Nevada), Maggie Goodlander (New Hampshire), Josh Gottheimer (New Jersey), Laura Gillen (New York), Don Davis (North Carolina), Janelle Bynum (Oregon), and Vicente Gonzalez (Texas). Candidates Marlene Galán-Woods in Arizona, Jamie Ager and Paul Barringer in North Carolina, and Bobby Pulido in Texas have also signed onto the initiative.

“We disagree with MAGA. We disagree with socialists,” Suozzi added. “We don’t want this extremism. We want mainstream."