The rise of the far left in the Democratic Party has been one of this year’s major political developments. The primary victories of Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez — members of the Democratic Socialists of America, or DSA, who unseated more moderate Democrats in congressional districts in New York — have caused both excitement and anxiety. The victory of another DSA-affiliated candidate, Melat Kiros, against an incumbent in Colorado has been cited as a sign that the socialist sweep is not limited to progressive East Coast enclaves.

And until his downfall over an accusation of sexual assault, left-wing Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, who is not a DSA member, was regarded by many as the party’s future.

For more mainstream Democrats — and for centrists, including moderate Republicans, who hope that the Democratic Party will be an effective check on the chaos and abuses of the Trump administration — this trend is a scary development. But is........

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