By Michael Katz | Tuesday, 21 July 2026 07:57 PM EDT
Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., argued Tuesday that the Democratic Party’s growing embrace of socialist and Marxist ideologies could strengthen Republicans’ prospects in the upcoming midterm elections. He stated, “Mainstream Americans have no part for Marxism.”
In a recent interview, Marshall described how Democrats have shifted significantly to the left, creating a political opening for Republicans despite early polling showing Democrats holding only a narrow lead on the generic congressional ballot.
“Run, Kamala, run!” Marshall remarked when asked about former Vice President Kamala Harris and the direction of the Democratic Party.
Marshall asserted that today’s Democrats have already moved toward socialism, with an even more progressive faction emerging within the party. “So, the mainstream Democrats today are socialists, right?” he said. “Socialists want bigger government, higher taxes. They’ve got a government program for everything. That’s your mainstream Democrats.”
He added: “So here’s this new group of folks that are certainly left of them—Marxists who want to blow up everything. They don’t want borders. Everyone should get amnesty, you know, free food for everybody. Free, free, free.”
Marshall said these positions ultimately benefit Republicans politically. “And that’s really hard to run against as a conservative Republican,” he explained. “But certainly, these Marxists out there help Republicans in the long term. Mainstream Americans have no part for Marxism.”
The interview occurred amid recent polling data from the Washington Post/Ipsos and Morning Consult, both showing Democrats holding slim advantages on the generic congressional ballot. The Washington Post/Ipsos survey found Democrats leading Republicans 48% to 45%, while Morning Consult’s poll showed a 46% to 43% Democrat advantage. Both margins were far narrower than the double-digit Democratic lead measured in the same poll ahead of the 2018 midterms.
Republicans are seeking to defend their House and Senate majorities in the November 3 elections, which historically have favored the party out of power. Democrats need a net gain of three or four House seats to reclaim the chamber, while Republicans are defending a narrow Senate majority.
