Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) on Monday urged the Democratic Party to remain a broad coalition, saying it should “make room for people with lots of different voices” in the wake of a string of primary victories by candidates identifying as democratic socialists. The Maryland senator, who has shifted leftward in recent years and is seen as a potential 2028 presidential contender, made the comments during an interview on CNN with Kasey Hunt.
Van Hollen framed the party as a “big tent” where ideological diversity is a strength, not a liability. “Maybe we should make room for people with lots of different voices,” he said. “I mean, people within the party can decide to agree or disagree with particular proposals.”
To illustrate his point, he contrasted centrist former Sen. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) with New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist. “We all encouraged our colleagues to support Joe Manchin, he was the Democrat that could win in West Virginia, and I certainly supported Joe,” Van Hollen said. “And when Mamdani becomes the Democratic nominee in New York City, we should be supporting Mamdani.”
He added, “I think the Democratic Party is big enough to be able to take both voices. We need to have a lot of churning. I actually think at this point in time, that’s very helpful for all of us.”
Van Hollen’s remarks echo a broader debate within the party about how to handle its leftward momentum. Some lawmakers have welcomed the energy and grassroots organizing that democratic socialists bring, especially in the fight against Republicans. But others, including Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) and strategist James Carville, have been outspoken critics of the shift.
Fetterman has warned about the rise of the “dirtbag left,” a term associated with certain democratic socialist circles, and has said he would leave the party if it became “the anti-Israel party.” Carville, a veteran of Bill Clinton’s 1992 campaign, has threatened to bolt if left-wing Twitch streamer Hasan Piker becomes a fixture in Democratic politics. Piker campaigned with Mamdani last year and is now backing progressive Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan’s Senate Democratic primary against Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.). That race has become a flashpoint, with some fearing a progressive win could hurt Democratic chances in the general election, as noted in a recent analysis of the Michigan contest.
The tension has also spilled into the party’s leadership. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who is generally opposed by democratic socialists, said in June that he hopes Democrats can stay unified after the primaries, emphasizing that “the enemy is Donald Trump and MAGA extremism.” Meanwhile, the Democratic Socialists of America continue to push for influence, with their co-chair recently arguing that socialists are the party’s core voters, a claim that has fueled internal debate.
Van Hollen’s call for inclusivity comes as Democrats are navigating a series of high-stakes primaries and a broader identity struggle. The party’s ability to balance its progressive and moderate wings will likely shape its strategy heading into the next election cycle. For now, the Maryland senator is advocating for a pragmatic approach that embraces ideological variety, even as some in his own party resist that vision.
