Former President Barack Obama urged Democrats to welcome socialists into their political coalition, calling them an essential part of the party’s future. Speaking Thursday on the Pod Save America podcast, Obama said Democrats should avoid imposing “litmus tests” on members with differing views and praised newly elected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist, as “part of a vision for the future.”

“Tuesday was nice, but we’ve got a lot of work to do,” Obama said. “We had Abigail Spanberger win and we had Zohran Mamdani win, and they are all part of a vision for the future. Our job is to say that we want everybody engaged.” He emphasized unity and mutual respect within the party, saying Democrats must find “genuine, deep” common ground despite ideological differences. Mamdani, who ran on a socialist platform, has proposed raising taxes on corporations and wealthy residents, freezing rents, providing free bus service and childcare, and creating city-owned grocery stores. His victory comes amid a growing leftward shift within the Democratic base. A September Gallup poll found that 66% of Democrats now view socialism favorably, compared to only 42% who view capitalism positively. However, political analyst Chris Cillizza warned that socialism “will not sell” nationally and could hurt Democrats in the 2028 presidential race.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin, however, argued that the party’s strength lies in inclusion. “You win through addition, not subtraction,” he said, stressing that Democrats must welcome diverse ideological voices. Meanwhile, Mamdani drew criticism this week for attending the luxury Somos conference in Puerto Rico, an annual political retreat for New York leaders. Critics labeled his attendance hypocritical, noting that the self-described socialist spent his post-election days mingling with donors and political insiders far from the working-class voters who fueled his campaign.