(NewsNation) — Democratic socialist candidates made major gains in elections across the country Tuesday night.

Three candidates gaining the most attention are Democratic socialists Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier, and progressive Democrat Brad Lander. All of them were backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani in what was considered a major test of his political influence and the strength of the city’s progressive movement overall.

“We are showing there is a new path for politics in our city and in our country,” Mamdani said. “We are showing that last June, a year ago tomorrow, was not an anomaly. It was not the end. It was the beginning.”

However, some in the Democratic Party believe success of the left could bring the party down.

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Democratic strategist James Carville thinks some critics of Tuesday’s results are being overly dramatic, calling their reactions “90% hysterical.” But he told NewsNation’s Elizabeth Vargas on Wednesday that he doesn’t understand or appreciate these candidates’ efforts to use the Democratic Party to advance their socialist ideals.

“All of these people hate Democrats,” Carville told Vargas. “Why do you want to run as a Democrat? Start your own movement. If it’s such a powerful, sweeping movement that’s got momentum everywhere, then go ahead and be at the head of it. Don’t use the Democratic Party to advance it.”

Carville specifically called out Chevalier, saying Democrats shouldn’t seat her if she wins in November. He said her views were against anything Democrats support.

“We believe in pluralism. She doesn’t even believe in interracial dating,” Carville said.

Carville referred to social media posts Chevalier published from 2018 to 2022. The posts included attacks on Democratic leaders, questioned the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and criticized interracial relationships.

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Carville also called out the socialist movement’s anti-Israel sentiment, saying it’s not what the Democratic Party is about.

“You can be hugely anti the policies of the government of Israel. …But when you say, ‘I don’t think Israel should exist,’ then I don’t have room for you,” Carville said. “When you start to write, ‘They don’t have to exist,’ or you run against the concept of Jewish people, then you’ve got no place at my table.”

While Carville said they are entitled to their opinions and that free speech protects them, having them seated in the Democratic caucus is not appropriate based on the party’s values.

“We just don’t want to be in the same political party with them.”

NewsNation’s Steph Whiteside and Jessica Kartalija contributed to this article.

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