Former West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, during an appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” stated his refusal to support self-described socialist candidates. “No way,” Manchin responded emphatically when asked if he would consider backing a socialist.
When host Margaret Brennan questioned whether he might consider supporting them if they brought forth good ideas, Manchin clarified, “I support the good ideas, but how could you support some of the crazy stuff they’re for?”
Former West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin told “Face the Nation” that he refuses to support the “crazy” demands of socialist candidates. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images)
Manchin expressed his concerns about the socialist platform, saying, “They’re for dismantling everything we know, whether it be the structure of government, Congress, or the Senate. They start talking about no police, no this, no that. Are you crazy?” He continued, “We want a crime-free area. We have to have police for that. We want a strong defense, we want a strong border.”
He highlighted the importance of maintaining energy production, stating that the world is increasingly reliant on U.S. energy. “If Democrats can’t say that, and they start lining up with socialist demands, energy will be gone,” Manchin warned.
Heather Manchin, his daughter, also appeared on the show and expressed concern about the Democratic leadership’s reluctance to oppose far-left candidates. “Control has now completely outweighed character,” she remarked, emphasizing the emphasis on vote counts over the character of candidates.
Vulnerable Democrat warns the party to ‘fight back’ against growing socialist movement
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) have gained traction, with several candidates they back winning in recent primary elections. Notably, figures like New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier have gained prominence in the Democratic Party.
Fox News Digital reached out to the DSA for comment but did not receive an immediate response. Meanwhile, a recent Fox News poll showed that 52% of Democrats held a favorable opinion of socialism, compared to 41% for capitalism. Among registered voters overall, 30% support socialism, up from 27% last year.
Lindsay Kornick, an associate editor for Fox News Digital, contributed to this report.