Former President Barack Obama said Democrats should welcome socialists as part of the party’s broader coalition, arguing that the party should avoid imposing ideological “litmus tests” on its members.
His comments came during [1] an appearance on the “Pod Save America” podcast Thursday, which was posted to YouTube on Friday.
Obama’s remarks followed the projected victory of Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani, who was elected mayor of New York City earlier in the week.
Mamdani, who ran on a progressive platform that included raising taxes on corporations and wealthy residents, implementing rent freezes, offering free public buses, and establishing city-owned grocery stores and free childcare, was expected to win by a significant margin.
“Tuesday was nice, but we’ve got a lot of work to do. And your task is going to be not to impose litmus tests,” Obama said on the podcast.
“We had [Democratic Virginia Gov.-elect] Abigail Spanberger win and we had Zohran Mandani win and they are all part of a vision for the future. Our job is to say that we want everybody engaged.”
Obama added that Democrats should focus on uniting diverse viewpoints within the party rather than drawing rigid ideological lines.
“And we want to have a conversation about how to make sure that every person in this country is treated with dignity and respect, and there are ladders of opportunity, and that there’s the possibility of community,” he said.
“And that we’re getting along not in some cliché, phonied way, but in a genuine, deep way where we recognize, yeah, we have differences, and yes, there are fights that are going to have to be fought, but that deep down there is something core in us that we have in common that is extraordinary.”
Obama’s comments come at a time when the Democratic Party continues to debate how far left its policies should lean.
Mamdani’s platform and win represent a growing socialist influence in local and state politics, a movement that has gained visibility through figures like Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Public opinion among Democratic voters has also shifted in recent years.
According to a Gallup poll released Sept. 8, only 42% of Democrats said they viewed capitalism positively, while 66% expressed a favorable view of socialism.
The findings highlight an ongoing generational and ideological divide within the party over economic and political priorities.
Some political analysts have warned that this shift could have national implications for Democrats in future elections.
On Sept. 9, NewsNation political contributor Chris Cillizza said on his YouTube channel that openly embracing socialism could hurt the party’s chances in 2028.
“I guess it’s not terribly surprising, but I do think if I am a Democrat who wants to win the 2028 election … That would worry me candidly because socialism broadly will not sell,” Cillizza said.
“You can call it democratic socialism. You can call it whatever you want. But the idea of socialism will not sell in the country.”
Other party officials, however, have echoed Obama’s call for unity.
Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Ken Martin said on Fox News’ America’s Newsroom on Aug. 6 that the party’s success depends on inclusion across ideological lines.
“We have lots of people in that tent from all of the different ideological wings, from conservative Democrats to centrists, to progressives, to these new leftists,” Martin said.
“And the reality is is I’ve always said that you win through addition, not subtraction. You don’t win by pushing people out of your coalition, you win by bringing people into your coalition.”
Obama’s remarks signal continued tension within the Democratic Party over how to balance its progressive and moderate factions, as well as how to appeal to a national electorate that remains divided over issues of economic policy and government expansion.