Donavan McKinney, a Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member and Michigan state representative, is targeting the seat of Representative Shri Thanedar in the November 2026 midterm elections. At a weekend rally and in an interview with Zeteo News, McKinney said, “I agree with Republicans on one thing: waste, fraud and abuse.”
McKinney differed with Republicans on the source of the problem, however. “Republicans think waste comes from the poor. But the real waste happens when our taxes are funneled to corporations and the rich, making them even richer,” he said.
“We too will attack waste, fraud and abuse, but we will attack the top 1% in this country,” McKinney said, adding that his goal was to cut government subsidies for corporations.
McKinney also criticized U.S. foreign policy in his speech: “We are forced to send our taxes overseas, to bombs and weapons. To kill families and children. No more supporting genocide.”
Democratic Socialists’ influence grows
The Democratic Socialists have been increasing their influence in party primaries in recent years. DSA-backed candidates made headlines by defeating incumbent Democrats in New York and Colorado. McKinney’s opponent, Shri Thanedar, had left DSA over the group’s anti-Israel stance.
Republican leaders, meanwhile, argue that the rise of socialism is a development that particularly draws the reaction of the working class, and that this could be to their advantage in 2026.