Former Senator Joe Manchin (I-WV) on Sunday ruled out supporting any socialist candidate during an appearance on CBS News’s “Face the Nation,” pointing to what he described as extreme policy proposals within the movement.
Host Margaret Brennan asked Manchin if he would ever consider backing a socialist candidate.
“No way, my God, no,” Manchin said. When pressed by Brennan on whether he would support someone who put forward good ideas, Manchin responded that while he would back individual concepts, he could not support the broader platform.
“I’ll support the good ideas, but how could you support some of the crazy stuff they’re for? Have you seen their platform?” Manchin said. He added that supporters of the movement want to dismantle existing government structures, including Congress and the Senate, while pointing to policy positions such as defunding the police. “Are you crazy?” he asked.
The comments follow primary election victories by democratic socialists and left-leaning candidates in regions ranging from the District of Columbia to California and New York.
Over the past year, figures such as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) have gained national prominence, with Ocasio-Cortez being discussed as a potential contender for the 2028 presidential race.
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