James Carville Says He Won’t Share Party With Socialists

Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville is openly warning that the Democratic Party may need a formal split after several candidates backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani won primary races, raising new concerns among party insiders about the growing power of the socialist left.

Carville and political analyst Al Hunt discussed the issue during Thursday’s episode of the “Politics War Room” podcast, where both expressed concern that the candidates aligned with Mamdani could damage Democrats heading into November.

One of the winners, democratic socialist Darializa Avila Chevalier, was among three Mamdani-backed candidates who secured victories in New York’s Tuesday primaries.

Hunt warned that the victories could “complicate the politically existential question of winning in November.”

While Carville and Hunt argued that Republicans are overstating how representative these candidates are of the Democratic Party as a whole, both agreed that party leaders must draw a clear line between mainstream Democrats and the socialist movement now gaining ground in New York.

Carville pointed specifically to reporting about Avila Chevalier’s past statements and political positions.

“I have the quote right here, I’ll get to it. She has attacked interracial relationships and the American flag. Lady, I ain’t in the same party as you. I’m sorry,” Carville said.

“I’m just not, and I actually do think it’s time for Democrats to talk ‘the S-word.’ ‘Schism.’ I really do,” he added.

Carville said Democrats have long defended themselves as a broad coalition, but argued that some political forces are simply too extreme to remain under the same tent.

“Everybody’s always said, ‘No, no, we’re coalition. We’re a big tent,’” he said. “And there’s some – there’s just some s— that I can’t be in the same tent with.”

Carville argued that many of the socialist candidates winning Democratic primaries do not appear to genuinely like the Democratic Party.

He suggested they run as Democrats only because they know they cannot win as third-party candidates.

For Carville, that raises a hard question the party can no longer avoid.

“Let’s negotiate a terms of a schism here. Maybe we can part under some kind of advantageous terms for both of us, but I’m done,” he said.

“And I’m not in that f—ing political party.”

Carville also drew a distinction between criticizing Israeli government policy and rejecting Israel’s legitimacy altogether.

“I am totally comfortable in a political party that spends time questioning the policies of the government of Israel,” he continued.

“In fact, I’m enthusiastic about that. I don’t want to be in a political party that denies the right of the state of Israel to exist,” he said.

“That’s just not — I just can’t do that. I’m sorry. It’s just not doable,” Carville added.

Hunt agreed that the socialist candidates could become a political weapon for President Donald Trump and Republicans.

“They are a great gift to Donald Trump,” Hunt replied.

He said Democrats would benefit if high-profile figures, including former President Barack Obama and younger party leaders, publicly distanced themselves from the movement.

“Certainly people like Obama, but also some of the younger Democrats and said, ‘This is not us,'” Hunt said.

Hunt warned that if Democrats fail to perform strongly in November, “that group of crazies” could “just sabotage Hakeem Jeffries every step of the way.”

He contrasted the new group with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., who initially created headaches for Democratic leadership but later became a more effective political figure.

Still, Hunt said he does not see the same potential in the latest wave of Mamdani-aligned candidates.

“I don’t think this group has that potential,” Hunt said.

“I don’t either,” Carville agreed. “And I think AOC is smart.

“I could be in the same party with her in many ways. I can’t be in the same party with Miss Chevalier. Can’t do it. Sorry,” Carville added.

New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, also appeared to distance herself from Mamdani and the candidates he supported after Tuesday’s primary results expanded his influence within the party.

“Some of the candidates that he has supported are individuals who do not understand the politics of New York City, the cultural differences from district to district, who have not been part of the history and the struggle of some of these districts, and are relatively new to the body politic,” James told CNN following the results.

James also said that she and other Democratic leaders are “disappointed” in Mamdani.

For conservatives, the Democratic infighting confirms what Republicans have argued for years: the party’s socialist wing is no longer a fringe nuisance.

It is winning primaries, defeating establishment-backed candidates, and forcing veteran Democrats to ask whether they still belong in the same political coalition.

Carville’s warning is especially notable because he is not a Republican operative trying to score points.

He is one of the most recognizable Democratic strategists of the modern era.

If even Carville is now talking openly about a party “schism,” Democrats have a problem they can no longer dismiss as right-wing exaggeration.

The fight over Mamdani’s movement is quickly becoming a fight over the future of the Democratic Party itself.

And for Republicans heading into November, that division may be one of the biggest political gifts of the cycle.