Former Senator Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) on Sunday, August 3rd, 2026, rejected the possibility of supporting socialist candidates, responding with a sharp “no” when asked about it by CBS News’s Margaret Brennan on “Face the Nation.” Manchin acknowledged he would support "good ideas" but criticized the broader socialist platform as "crazy," citing their calls to dismantle government structures including Congress and the Senate, and their stance against police and other institutions.

Manchin’s remarks come amid a notable rise of democratic socialist and left-leaning candidates winning recent primaries across the United States, including in Washington, D.C., California, and New York. Among these rising figures is New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D), who has become a prominent voice within his party. Additionally, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), a well-known democratic socialist, has been discussed as a potential contender for the 2028 presidential election.

Manchin expressed strong opposition to the socialist agenda, emphasizing the radical nature of their proposals and questioning the rationale behind supporting such platforms.

Sources