Peruvian analyst Oscar Vidarte Arévalo says the rise of democratic socialism in US Democratic primaries is altering political dynamics ahead of the November legislative elections.
Writing in an opinion column published on August 16, 2026, Vidarte responded to recent arguments by commentator Andrés Oppenheimer regarding the upcoming congressional races. Oppenheimer contended that left-wing gains in Democratic primary contests benefit the Republican Party, asserting that calling an opponent a socialist functions as an insult in American politics and ultimately strengthens the far right led by Donald Trump.
Vidarte stated that while Oppenheimer's thesis appears logical at first glance, the underlying political situation is far more complex. He argued that several years ago it would have been considered impossible for a political figure like Trump, who employed explicitly racist, misogynistic, and xenophobic rhetoric while criticizing free-market principles, to win a presidential election.
According to Vidarte, the center-left's movement toward neoliberal policy in the 1990s under the banner of the Third Way resulted in severe consequences for social democratic, progressive, and allied political parties. He said those parties lost their clear identity and failed to distinguish themselves from center-right rivals, leading to their absorption into established political systems and their disappearance from political maps in both Europe and Latin America.
Left-Wing Resurgence and Polarization
Vidarte questioned the point at which the Democratic Party lost the support of working-class voters, pointing out that traditionally industrial states in the Rust Belt voted for Trump. He noted that anti-capitalist and anti-globalization arguments appear to resonate when delivered by Trump, even as commentators claim similar rhetoric fails when used by the left.
The analysis argues that left-wing movements have responded by re-embracing core traditional principles. Vidarte noted that while left-leaning figures may sharpen their rhetoric at times, they retain the ability to negotiate and moderate their stance to attract broader social coalitions. He pointed to Latin American elections where left-wing candidates defeated right-wing opponents, including Pedro Castillo and Ollanta Humala in Peru, Gabriel Boric in Chile, and Gustavo Petro in Colombia.
Political Fragmentation and Electoral Uncertainties
Vidarte highlighted a broader international trend toward political fragmentation, observing that political extremes are filling space left open by a shrinking center. He argued that the United States is following this pattern, adding that confrontation between radical factions of the two major parties could alter traditional two-party dynamics in American governance.
Vidarte disputed the assumption that Trump and the Republican Party are guaranteed victory in the upcoming midterms. Recalling the 2021 Peruvian presidential election, he noted that Peru's right wing initially welcomed the candidacy of Pedro Castillo before losing the election, concluding that in a nation inclined toward political equilibrium, a win for a Trump-dominated Republican Party remains uncertain.
Vidarte is a principal professor and coordinator of the Research Group on Peruvian Foreign Policy at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP), where he earned his doctorate in political science and government. He holds a master's degree in international relations from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Colombia and completed postgraduate coursework in international security at the University of Delaware in the United States. His published academic works include a 2023 study on tri-national foreign policy between Peru, Bolivia, and Chile, and a 2024 book analyzing political, economic, and historical dimensions of the war in Ukraine. His regular commentary for Global Focus has examined topics including Trump's regional influence, Latin American political shifts, and Peruvian foreign affairs.
