Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., took aim at the Democratic Socialists of America after crushing his primary challenger by roughly 30 points Tuesday, even questioning whether incoming DSA-aligned House members with “anti-American” views should receive security clearances.
Moskowitz defeated Democratic Socialist Oliver Larkin in Florida’s 25th Congressional District after facing opposition from anti-Israel progressives, including streamer Hasan Piker, over the congressman’s support for Israel.
Speaking to Politico’s Playbook following his victory, Moskowitz made clear he considers the DSA an opponent of the Democratic Party.
“Florida is known for hurricanes so the DSA is a disaster area in Florida — and there’s no federal reimbursement coming to help these people,” Moskowitz said.
He also directly challenged Piker.
“Hey, Hasan Piker, welcome to Florida,” Moskowitz said, urging Democrats who previously embraced the controversial streamer to continue appearing alongside him.
“Democrats shouldn’t play hide the Piker now,” he added. “For all those people who thought it was a great idea to campaign with him, as Jay-Z once said, ‘Bring ’em out, bring ’em out.’ They shouldn’t be hiding him now.”
Piker has campaigned with progressive candidates during the primary season, including Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan.
The streamer has generated controversy over past comments that the United States “deserved” the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and for boosting groups including Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi rebels. He also recently traveled to Cuba and China, praised the Chinese Communist Party and criticized the U.S. government while saying he had “no patriotism” for America.
Moskowitz then turned his attention toward DSA-backed candidates expected to enter Congress, questioning whether lawmakers holding certain views should have access to classified information.
“They’re anti-American at their core,” Moskowitz said. “People who have said anti-American things and have said things that are pro-Russian and pro-China, should they really get a security clearance?”
Piker fired back when Politico contacted him for a response.
“I’m genuinely concerned for his mental well-being,” Piker said. “I think he should stop posting on the internet and focus on defeating the Republican in his newly redistricted congressional seat.”
Moskowitz did not specifically identify the DSA candidates he was criticizing, though his remarks appeared to include candidates such as Darializa Avila Chevalier, who defeated a longtime incumbent in a New York City Democratic primary and is poised to win the general election.
Chevalier’s victory came amid scrutiny of past statements.
During the 2020 election, she called Joe Biden a “rapist” and “war criminal” and referred to the United States as a “f—ing disgrace.”
Other previous posts included Chevalier boasting that she had used an American flag as a napkin to wipe her hands and attacking white women in interracial relationships as “ugly colonizer women.”
Moskowitz’s overwhelming Florida victory now gives the centrist Democrat fresh ammunition in his escalating battle with the party’s socialist wing.
[READ MORE: Rick Scott Says Trump May Have ‘No Choice’ but to Resume Full War With Iran]
