AUSTIN, TEXAS —

Rahm Emanuel, the former U.S. ambassador and a long-time Democrat, has reiterated his stance that democratic socialists do not fit within the Democratic Party. Interestingly, he also voiced his support for a left-leaning candidate in one of the highly competitive Senate races taking place during the midterms.

“Democratic Socialists are a separate party. I’ll see you in November,” he remarked to Fox News Digital while attending the Texas Tribune Festival.

Emanuel, who is considering a possible presidential run in 2028, has been quite vocal against the far-left movement. Although he maintained that the Democratic Socialists of America is its own entity, he acknowledged their increasing influence on the Democratic ballot, especially notable in the upcoming 2026 midterms.

Several democratic socialists have secured victories in congressional Democratic primaries across the nation. This includes three candidates in New York City backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, along with Chris Rabb from Pennsylvania, Melat Kiros from Colorado, and Florida Senate candidate Angie Dixon.

Despite the considerable gains this election cycle, Emanuel insisted that there has not been any “takeover” of the Democratic Party.

“Do you really think people want to support defunding the police? Or that they want open borders and prisons? Let them run on it. I don’t, and neither does the party,” Emanuel stated. He pointed out that there needs to be a healthy dialogue between the progressive and pragmatic factions within the party. “That’s the essence of a coalition party,” he noted, referring to the party convention.

“Swing voters in swing states decide presidential elections. It’s really that simple. So, the focus needs to be on winning,” he added, emphasizing the practical side of electoral politics.

Emanuel also expressed skepticism about the Democratic Socialist agenda’s appeal beyond certain areas, remarking that it doesn’t really resonate outside of locations like the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

High-profile democratic socialists, including Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have lent their support to Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, although El-Sayed himself does not identify as a socialist.

While at the Texas Tribune Festival, Emanuel praised Democratic Senate nominee from Texas, James Talarico, describing him as “strong” and appreciating his openness about his faith.

However, when Fox News Digital inquired about his support for El-Sayed’s campaign, Emanuel appeared to hesitate at first.

“Look, I mean, it matters what the voters in Michigan think, not what I think,” he clarified. “That’s ultimately what will define this race. I want to see the Democrats winning in the Senate.”

When probed further about his hopes for El-Sayed’s success, Emanuel simply replied, “Yeah.”