Former West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin stated on CBS News that he could not support candidates who identify as socialists or advocate socialist policies, characterising their platforms as promoting positions fundamentally at odds with his own political views.

The remarks underscore Manchin's established centrist positioning within the Democratic Party, as he has consistently distinguished himself from the party's progressive wing. His refusal to back socialist-aligned candidates reflects broader tensions between moderate and progressive factions competing for influence within the Democratic coalition.