Opinion | Zachary Faria: Victorious Democrats prepare for a Palestinian purity-test purge

Washington Examiner commentary writer Zachary Faria argues that last week's sweeping Democratic wins have left the party confident enough to push out members who are not left-wing enough for its activist base, with the Palestinian cause as the test.

The most obvious target, Faria writes, is Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, a reliable Democratic vote whom the party wants gone "primarily for his opposition to antisemitic terrorist sympathizers." Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has said people are "lining up to run" against Fetterman in 2028, and Fetterman already has a declared primary challenger: Ahmed Moor, a Gaza-born member of the Democratic Socialists of America whose past posts about Oct. 7 have drawn fire.

Faria says the same pressure is building against party leaders. Several current and incoming senators, including Elissa Slotkin, Abdul El-Sayed and Bernie Sanders, are cool on keeping Chuck Schumer as leader, with some pushing Sen. Chris Van Hollen instead. In the House, incoming members of the "pro-Palestinian" wing are already scoffing at backing Hakeem Jeffries, with Rep. Jamie Raskin floated as a replacement.

"The Palestinian activists call the shots," Faria writes. "They are the ones who choose the candidates," and with an electoral cushion, Democrats will "impose their purity tests for elections and leadership positions with more fervor." His warning to the party: cutting members now may come back to bite it.