During an interview, Kennedy said he believes the party's progressive wing now holds significant influence, particularly in heavily Democratic areas. "I guess it's not a newsflash that the Graham-Platner wing of the Democratic Party is in control," Kennedy said. Kennedy argued that many of the statements made by members of that faction would be viewed as extreme in much of the United States. Kennedy continued, "They're the product of 50 years of high school civics being taught by football coaches." "I notice that all of these neo-socialists they don't they don't want to go live in a socialist country."