Rahm Emanuel has warned that Democrats could lose crucial swing districts if the party allows candidates aligned with Bernie Sanders-style socialism to define its agenda. He argues that moderate Democrats may be burdened by policies and cultural positions that are unpopular with voters outside strongly liberal areas.

The warning reflects a wider internal Democratic debate over how far the party should move left after recent electoral setbacks. Emanuel, a former Chicago mayor and senior Obama administration figure, has urged Democrats to focus more on broadly supported economic and practical concerns rather than divisive ideological issues.