Rahm Emanuel said democratic socialists "are their own party," arguing their positions on policing, immigration and criminal justice clash with mainstream Democratic norms and could alienate swing voters. He urged Democrats to build a broad coalition of independents and disaffected Republicans and to focus on tangible priorities such as affordability, wages and ethics reform. Emanuel acknowledged internal debate between pragmatic and progressive wings but said he would back Democratic nominees despite disagreements. The remarks come as DSA-backed candidates record notable primary wins and expand the organization's influence since 2018.
Rahm Emanuel: ‘Democratic Socialists Are Their Own Party,’ Citing Policy Rift and Rising DSA Influence
Rahm Emanuel discusses the economic and technological strength of Chicago at the opening of a new Dell Solutions Center Wednesday, April 22, 2015. |AP
Rahm Emanuel said democratic socialists operate "their own party," intensifying an internal Democratic debate as candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) score high-profile primary wins. Emanuel made the remarks during an appearance on NBC News' Meet the Press and framed the dispute as a strategic question for Democrats ahead of the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential race.
Emanuel's Comments
"I didn't say form their own party. They are their own party. They had a convention here in Chicago just six weeks ago," Emanuel told Kristen Welker. "They believe in defunding the police. That's just not a Democratic position. They believe in open borders. That is not a Democratic Party position. They believe in letting prisoners out of prison. That is not a Democratic Party position."
Emanuel, a former White House chief of staff, Chicago mayor and U.S. ambassador to Japan, argued Democrats need a broad coalition of independents and disaffected Republicans to win competitive states such as Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. He warned the party has a "brand problem" and must demonstrate it can deliver results on affordability, wages and ethics reforms rather than only opposing political opponents.
DSA's Growing Role and Electoral Examples
The DSA has expanded its influence since Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's 2018 primary victory, helping elect candidates at federal, state and local levels and bringing proposals like Medicare for All, stronger tenant protections and expanded worker rights into mainstream debate. Recent DSA-aligned primary successes noted in this cycle include Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier in New York, Chris Rabb in Philadelphia, and Melat Kiros in Colorado.
Party Response and Internal Debate
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has publicly distanced himself from Medicare for All and the DSA's articulated agenda, emphasizing cost-of-living priorities—groceries, gas, housing and health care—as the party's focus. Emanuel acknowledged there are legitimate policy debates within the party and described a needed "healthy debate between the pragmatic wing and the progressive wing."
Practical Politics
Despite sharp disagreements — including on Israel and Gaza in the case of some primary winners — Emanuel said he would support the Democratic nominee in general elections. He urged Democrats, if they regain control of Congress, to prioritize issues voters notice: ethics reform, affordability, and wage growth, rather than escalating purely ideological fights.
Context: Democratic socialism broadly advocates expanding social safety nets, stronger labor protections and greater public investment in areas such as health care, housing and education. The DSA remains the country's largest socialist organization and continues to press progressive policy proposals inside Democratic primaries.
Newsweek reporters used the AI assistant Martyn in producing background material for this story. Newsweek reached out to the DSA for comment.
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