Ted Cruz says Democrats radicalized, points to AOC, Mamdani, Platner

SUMTER, S.C. — Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said the Democratic Party has become “radicalized” and cited New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, Maine Senate hopeful Graham Platner and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., as signs of where the party is headed.

“Look, I think, unfortunately, this is the foundation of the Democratic Party,” Cruz told Fox News Digital. “If you look at who the Democrats are, they’re Comrade Mamdani, they’re AOC, they’re Graham Platner, that communist Nazi oyster farmer. Who knew that was even a thing?”

“That’s the energy of the Democratic Party. That’s where the money is. They’ve become radicalized.”

Cruz, who is on the campaign trail with South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson ahead of Tuesday’s closely watched Republican runoff against Lt. Gov. Pamela Duygute, accused Democrats of moving away from the political center, saying the party was “motivated” by opposition to President Donald Trump.

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“They mostly hate President Trump,” Cruz said. “It’s truly tragic to see that even though President Trump is an extraordinary president, the only thing motivating Democrats is hatred towards him.”

Cruz added that the Democratic Party has lost touch with the priorities of ordinary Americans who prefer “common sense” policies.

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Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, arrives for a hearing at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on December 17, 2025. (Heather Diehl/Getty Images)

“I don’t think most Americans are there,” Cruz said. “I know the people of South Carolina are not there, and I think people need common sense, and this is not the Democratic Party today.”

Cruz highlighted Platner, Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez as evidence of a shift.

Platner secured the Democratic Senate nomination in Maine this month; despite a series of scandals, including incendiary online comments on Reddit with a well-publicized and now-covered-up chest tattoo reminiscent of a Nazi symbol, reports that he exchanged suggestive messages with several women while married, and allegations from ex-girlfriends of rape fantasies, binge drinking and violence.

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Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner and Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont attend a Fighting the Oligarchy event on May 25, 2026 in Portland, Maine. (Sophie Park/Bloomberg/Getty Images)

Among them are Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, DY, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. The Marine Corps veteran, backed by prominent Democrats including Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has denied the allegations and will now take on five-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November.

Mamdani’s rise began with his victory over Andrew Cuomo in the New York City mayoral race last year; The self-described democratic socialist gained national attention for his criticism of Israel and support for Palestinian causes while campaigning on free bus service, city-owned grocery stores and taxing the wealthy.

Now Mamdani is using her influence to support socialist and progressive candidates Claire Valdez, Brad Lander and Darializa Avila Chevalier in the New York primary, testing whether her popularity can help push the Democratic Party even further to the left.

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Ocasio-Cortez, a former bartender and democratic socialist, defeated former Democratic Rep. Joe Crowley in New York’s 2018 Democratic primary and remains a leading voice in the Democratic Party.

The comments come as Republicans in South Carolina head to the polls Tuesday for a risky runoff that will determine the GOP nominee to replace term-limited Gov. Henry McMaster.