US Politics

DNC chair downplays socialist–moderate rift as Mamdani’s rise has some Dems rattled

By Eric November 3, 2025

Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist and current state lawmaker, is poised to become the next mayor of New York City, potentially marking a significant shift in the political landscape of the Democratic Party. With a commanding double-digit lead in the polls, Mamdani’s victory could symbolize the ascendance of the far-left within the party, a development that has sparked both excitement and anxiety among Democrats. While some party members express concern that a Mamdani win could provide ammunition for Republicans to portray the Democratic Party as increasingly radical and socialist, Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin emphasizes the diversity and inclusivity of the party. He argues that the Democratic coalition is broad enough to encompass a range of ideologies, from conservative to progressive, and that this diversity is a strength rather than a weakness.

Martin’s remarks come amid a pivotal election year for the Democratic Party, which is still grappling with the fallout from last year’s electoral defeats. Republicans have characterized the party as rudderless and overly influenced by its left wing, but Martin counters that the Democratic Party is unified around key goals such as making life more affordable and combating authoritarianism. He asserts that the party’s ability to unite various factions is crucial for electoral success, stating, “You win elections through addition, not subtraction.” This sentiment reflects a broader strategy within the Democratic Party to appeal to a wide array of voters, even as internal debates about messaging and priorities continue.

As the political climate intensifies, the Republican National Committee has criticized the Democratic Party’s “big tent” approach, suggesting that it has become a haven for extreme views. In response, Martin maintains that the Democratic Party remains committed to its foundational principles of fighting for the working class and protecting marginalized communities. He acknowledges ongoing discussions within the party about the effectiveness of certain progressive rhetoric but insists that Democrats can simultaneously advocate for economic justice and uphold their core values. As Mamdani’s campaign unfolds, the implications of his potential victory will likely resonate beyond New York City, shaping the narrative of the Democratic Party as it heads into future elections.

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Zohran Mamdani
appears to be on the verge of becoming the next mayor of the nation’s most populous city.
And a victory by the 34-year-old democratic socialist state lawmaker from New York City would capsulize the rise of the far left in the
Democratic Party
.
While plenty of Democrats are fearful of the political consequences and how it would fuel Republican efforts to make a Mayor Mamdani the face of a Democratic Party aiming to usher in socialism, Ken Martin isn’t concerned.
“What it shows is the great breadth of our party,” the chair of the Democratic National Committee said in a one-on-one interview with Fox News Digital this week in Philadelphia as he crisscrossed the 2025 campaign trail.
FIVE KEY RACES TO WATCH IN NEXT WEEK’S ELECTIONS
A likely Mamdani win in New York City, where he holds a double-digit lead in the polls, may be coupled with potential victories by moderate Democrats Rep. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey and former Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia in the only two states this year to hold gubernatorial elections.
“We have conservative Democrats, we have centrist Democrats, we have progressives and we have leftists. And I’ve always said that you win elections through addition, not subtraction. You win by bringing people into your coalition and growing your party,” Martin touted.
‘DEMOCRATS ARE NERVOUS’ ABOUT POTENTIAL ZOHRAN MAMDANI VICTORY, NEW REPORT WARNS
Martin acknowledged that Democrats “don’t agree on everything. There’s a lot of different ideas on how to accomplish our goals, but we’re unified around those goals. We’re unified around making sure that people’s lives are more affordable and that we can create an economy that works for everyone in this country. We’re unified in stopping
Donald Trump
in his authoritarian margin, his shredding of our Constitution.”
As Democrats work to escape the political wilderness after last year’s stunning election setbacks, when the party lost control of the White House and Senate and failed to win back the House majority, Republicans portray their rivals as a leaderless party being held hostage by the far left.
But Martin spotlighted his party’s diversity, saying, “Whether you’re a far-left Democrat or a conservative Democrat, or anything in between, everyone’s welcome into this big tent party of ours.”
The Republican National Committee took issue with the Democrats’ big tent.
“Ken Martin’s so-called ‘big tent’ Party includes communists, antisemites, and illegal aliens, while apparently the only people who aren’t welcome are hardworking American families. The inmates are now running the asylum in the Democrat Party, which is why the DNC is broke and proudly backing a communist for mayor of New York City,” RNC national press secretary Kiersten Pels claimed in a statement to Fox News Digital.
Martin, pointing to the
Republican Party
, argued that they “basically have one ideology and do not allow for any dissent.”
HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS REPORTING AND ANALYSIS ON THE 2025 ELECTIONS
Martin was interviewed a few days after a new center-left group named “Welcome,” in their inaugural report, argued that left-leaning ideas and rhetoric have badly weakened the Democratic Party. And the group urged Democrats to jettison some of the party’s progressive language about race and LGBTQ issues. The news was first reported
by Semafor
.
Asked for his take, Martin said he had yet to read the report, but he did emphasize that “the Democratic Party can walk and chew gum at the same time.”
“We can both focus on a core economic message that gives people in this country a sense that we’re going to fight for their economic future, that they’ll have an opportunity to get ahead… and also, at the same time, stand up and fight for our values. Make sure that no one gets left behind. Make sure that… people who are being harassed or bullied or pushed out of the conversation are protected.”
“We are the Democratic Party. We’ve fought for the working class and the poor, and we’ve always fought against bigotry and discrimination, and we’ll continue to do both,” he pledged.