California Gov. Gavin Newsom says Democrats should engage with Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)-backed candidates rather than treat them as an overall threat to the party. Speaking publicly, Newsom tells Democrats to be in the “addition not subtraction” business, positioning engagement as a way to broaden the party instead of excluding socialist-aligned candidates.
Both outlets describe Newsom’s remarks as a response to recent primary outcomes in which candidates backed by the DSA have won elections, prompting debate within the Democratic Party about whether socialist challengers weaken or strengthen the broader coalition. In the coverage, Newsom does not frame DSA-affiliated candidates as a destabilizing force. Instead, he argues that they should be brought into the party’s ongoing work, emphasizing inclusion over confrontation.
The reports focus on Newsom’s message to other Democrats and the immediate political context created by DSA-influenced primary results, without detailing specific candidates or races.
