Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) escalated his feud with left-wing streamer Hasan Piker and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) on Thursday, declaring that the two factions “can’t coexist with me” following his decisive primary win earlier this week.
In an appearance on Fox Business Network’s “Varney & Co.,” Moskowitz told host Stuart Varney that the DSA and Piker had targeted him months ago in a district that former President Trump carried by nine points. “They weren’t interested in winning the general election in my seat. They were interested in just taking out a Democrat,” he said.
Moskowitz’s comments came after he defeated progressive union organizer Oliver Larkin in Florida’s 25th Congressional District primary on Tuesday, capturing 63.5 percent of the vote to Larkin’s 36.5 percent. Larkin, who was backed by the DSA and received fundraising support from Piker, had sharply criticized U.S. military aid to Israel and called the war in Gaza a genocide.
Following his victory, Moskowitz taunted Piker on X, writing, “My condolences to @hasanthehun.” Piker fired back, noting that Moskowitz’s first thought was a critic of Israel rather than thanking constituents, and added, “Really worried about his genocidal emotional support apartheid state,” referencing Moskowitz’s strong support for Israel.
The clash underscores the widening rift between the party’s moderate and far-left wings, a divide that has increasingly centered on economic policy and the U.S. stance toward Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The fight also mirrors broader tensions playing out in primaries across the country, where South Florida primaries test Democratic incumbents and where AIPAC's super PAC has fueled Democratic infighting.
Moskowitz’s victory was part of a larger pattern in which Moskowitz defeated a DSA-backed rival, and it comes as some Democrats worry about the party’s ability to hold competitive seats. “They’re making blue seats cobalt blue, but we got to win the general election,” Moskowitz said. “That should be the goal, and everyone needs to be rowing in that direction.”
Piker, a prominent online personality with millions of followers, has become a lightning rod in Democratic politics, often using his platform to advocate for progressive causes and criticize party moderates. The DSA has also ramped up its electoral efforts, backing primary challengers to incumbents it views as insufficiently progressive.
Political analysts note that while the left has scored some victories in deep-blue districts, the strategy can backfire in battleground areas. “The DSA and their allies are playing a long game, but in swing districts, they risk handing seats to Republicans,” said one Democratic strategist who asked not to be named.
Moskowitz, who represents a district that includes parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, has positioned himself as a pragmatic Democrat focused on winning general elections. His next challenge will be the November contest, where he will face Republican nominee Moskowitz vs. Singer in Florida's battleground 23rd District, a race that could test whether his centrist approach resonates with voters.
The Hill has reached out to representatives for Piker and the DSA for comment but has not received a response as of publication time.
