Perino Says AOC Backs Losing Candidates as 'The Bloc' Pressures Jeffries
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Summary
The Five discussed progressive Democrats' post-primary push for a far-left agenda, framing it as a 'mutiny' against likely Speaker Hakeem Jeffries. Jesse Watters highlighted a New York Times poll showing 49% of registered voters believe Democrats are too far left. The panel played AOC's Florida rally clip for state Senate candidate Angie Nixon, where she defended policies like universal health care and good schools as 'common sense' not communism. Van Jones warned DSA mixes progressive ideas (health care, education) with regressive ones (no borders, no police, no Israel). Dana Perino and Kellyanne Conway argued AOC backs unwinnable candidates and confuses primary wins in safe seats with a general-election mandate.
Editorial Assessment
The segment accurately reported the existence of 'The Bloc,' a new group of DSA-backed House candidates strategizing for concessions from Jeffries on committees and progressive votes if Democrats secure a narrow majority. It also correctly noted AOC's recent campaigning for Nixon in Kissimmee targeting Hispanic voters. However, viewers miss broader context: recent NYT/Siena and other polls show Democrats leading the generic ballot by 5-9 points with forecasts giving them 75-90% chance of winning the House. Nixon's Florida Senate race is uphill in a Republican-leaning state but has tightened, with her primary upset showing progressive energy in some areas. The loaded language ('vultures,' 'castrate,' 'commie energy') and focus on socialism's unpopularity skew perception toward inevitable Democratic losses despite favorable headwinds for the party in Trump's first midterm. Polling on specific policies like Medicare for All often shows majority support even if 'socialism' as a label does not.
Key Moments
49% of registered voters think Democrats are too far left per NYT poll
Multiple recent NYT/Siena polls and crosstabs confirm similar figures on voter perceptions of the party, though Democratic voters themselves are more mixed.
AOC is backing candidates like Angie Nixon who won't win
Nixon is the Democratic nominee in a tough Florida Senate race against incumbent Ashley Moody; recent polls show it competitive in spots but forecasts favor Moody, yet overall Democratic midterm gains are projected.
The Bloc of progressive House members is plotting a shakedown of Hakeem Jeffries for policy concessions
Axios and other outlets report the informal DSA-backed group is strategizing demands on committee seats, rules changes, and progressive votes for support in a potential speaker election.
DSA mixes progressive ideas like health care and education with regressive ones like no borders, no police, no prisons, no Israel
Direct paraphrase of Van Jones' widely reported July 2026 Substack and media comments criticizing DSA positions.
Majority of Americans completely reject socialism
NBC polling shows socialism remains unpopular overall (18% positive view), but specific policies AOC highlighted (universal health care, funded schools) often poll above 50% support.
Notable Concerns
- Heavy use of partisan framing and dismissive labels for progressive policies without counter-data on policy popularity
- Selective emphasis on one NYT poll figure while omitting that Democrats are heavily favored to gain congressional seats
- Prediction that AOC-backed candidates 'won't win' presented as fact days before election with mixed polling in targeted races
Sources Consulted
- Centrist Democrats Rebuke Party’s Left Wing: ‘We Are Capitalist, Not Socialist’
- House Democrats' incoming progressive 'Bloc' plots its first moves
- Angie Nixon campaigns with AOC in Kissimmee to turn out Hispanic vote
- DSA: Progressive or REGRESSIVE? - Van Jones
- Midterm Election Forecast 2026: House and Senate Chances
- Angie Nixon, Candidate for Senate, Takes Florida by Storm
- Crucial swing voters troubled by DSA, new poll shows
- Democrats’ Midterm Strength Masks Fierce Divides and Frustration, Poll Shows