Former West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin stated Sunday that he would never support a self-described socialist candidate, warning against what he called "crazy positions" associated with the ideology. Manchin's remarks came during an appearance on CBS' “Face the Nation.”
When pressed by host Margaret Brennan on whether he would support a socialist even if they had "some good ideas," Manchin responded, “I support the good ideas. But how could you support some of the crazy stuff they’re for?” He questioned the platforms of such candidates, suggesting they aim to dismantle established governmental structures and advocate for policies like defunding the police.
“We want a crime-free area. We have to have police for that. Yeah. We want a strong defense, we want a strong border,” Manchin stated, contrasting his views with what he perceives as socialist demands. He also raised concerns about the impact on energy policy, asserting that socialist platforms would lead to the elimination of energy production, despite the world's current reliance on U.S. energy.
Manchin's daughter, Heather Manchin, who was also present, shared her apprehension that Democratic Party leadership is failing to reject far-left and socialist candidates. She criticized a focus on "control" over the "character of the person and the platform they’re running on," suggesting that the party is currently dealing with the consequences of prioritizing vote counts over candidate integrity.
Manchin's comments arrive as several candidates who identify as socialist have won Democratic primary elections. Politicians endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), such as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and New York congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier, have gained prominence within the party. A July Fox News poll indicated that socialism held a more favorable view among Democrats (52%) than capitalism (41%), with 30% of all registered voters expressing a favorable view of socialism, an increase from the previous year.