Ousted Lawmaker Says Primary Fights Are ‘Dangerous’

House Foreign Affairs Chairman Eliot Engel (D-NY), a 16-term veteran who was vanquished in his New York primary by a progressive insurgent, bluntly warned his fellow Democrats against backing challengers against sitting lawmakers from the same party, CNN reports.

Said Engel: “I think that it’s a very dangerous thing for party unity if members are going to start putting up primary challenges to other members in the same caucus. I think it’s not something that should be done.”

He added: “But you know everyone does what they want to do, and I’m willing to abide by the wishes of the people.”