A former Bernie Sanders operative has expressed concern about the Democratic Party’s current direction, claiming it has been overtaken by the far left. According to Evan Barker, the party’s establishment efforts to block progressives in the 2020 presidential race backfired, strengthening the far-left movement.

Barker, who previously raised funds for Democratic candidates, shared in an interview that the establishment’s attempt to blacklist the movement after Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s victory in 2019 only increased its influence. The efforts to curb the insurgent left created an environment where activists built their own political infrastructure, including training programs and recruitment of donors, even billionaires.

“The party has been captured from all sides,” Barker noted, referring to the alliance of hyper-left donors and radicalized staff shaping the party.

She described Sanders’ movement as increasingly influenced by figures like Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Abdul El-Sayed, who have pushed him further left on issues such as guns and immigration. This shift has encouraged a new group of progressive candidates challenging the status quo ahead of the midterm elections.

Abdul El-Sayed, a Michigan Senate candidate aligned with the progressive movement, won a primary against Rep. Haley Stevens, demonstrating the growing strength of Sanders’ legacy. Other candidates supported by the movement have also succeeded in key races, signaling a broader influence.

Barker, previously inspired by former President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign, revealed that the Democratic Party’s shift on critical issues like immigration and identity politics prompted her to leave and support former President Donald Trump in 2024. She highlighted the significant difference she perceives between Obama’s era and the current party stance.

She further expressed discontent with former President Joe Biden’s decision not to seek re-election in 2024 and Kamala Harris’ nomination, seeing it as a reflection of the party’s transformation.