Rahm Emanuel said democratic socialists are "their own party," intensifying a debate over the future direction of the Democratic Party as Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)-backed candidates notch a series of high-profile primary victories. During an appearance on NBC News' Meet the Press with Kristen Welker on Sunday, Emanuel rejected the idea that democratic socialists represent just another faction within the Democratic coalition. "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 said. "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." The remarks come as Emanuel, who served as White House chief of staff under former President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2010, weighs a potential 2028 presidential bid and as Democrats grapple with ideological divisions between establishment figures and an ascendant progressive wing. His comments highlight a growing tension within the Democratic Party over how it should position itself heading toward the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential race.
Emanuel, a former Chicago mayor and former U.S. ambassador to Japan, argued that Democrats' path to victory depends on building a broad coalition that includes independents and disaffected Republicans rather than moving further left. He pointed to competitive states such as Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, where narrow margins have decided recent presidential elections. "The biggest story of this election will be Democrats winning in red districts and flipping them or red states, flipping them," he said.
"One of the pieces of that coalition will be Romney Republican and independent voters who have walked away from the Republican Party." The former White House chief of staff said Democrats have a "brand problem" and need to show voters they can deliver results rather than simply oppose President Donald Trump. "Do we have a brand problem? Yes, we have a brand problem," Emanuel said.
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