Washington Examiner columnist Joe Concha argued that Democratic leaders are increasingly embracing policies he characterized as “socialist.”
Concha’s comments come after former President Barack Obama appeared with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as part of an initiative promoting expanded government-backed programs for free child care.
“It is official, the Democrats have embraced socialism,” Concha said on Fox News’s America’s Newsroom on Monday. “Promise free stuff with no way to pay for it, just taxing people more, and voters are buying it.”
While campaigning for mayor, Mamdani proposed many services for residents at no cost, including buses, child care, and city-run grocery stores. Mamdani announced earlier in April that the first city-funded grocery store will open at the end of 2027.
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Supporters say such initiatives are designed to ease cost-of-living pressures, while critics question their long-term fiscal impact.
Concha argued the proposals would require significant tax increases, particularly in a city already facing budget constraints.
“Free busing and free child care for all will cost billions in a city that has a huge budget shortfall,” Concha said. “The only way to pay for it is by raising taxes.”
With the midterm elections months away, both political parties are courting voters. Concha warned that some of Mamdani’s and the Democrats’ proposals may not resonate with voters in battleground states.
“Barack Obama should be first to know, try to pretend you are a moderate who believes in capitalism. In key states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, this social stuff ain’t going to fly,” Concha said.
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He added that the high-profile alliance between Obama and Mamdani signals a larger shift within the party. Mamdani has embraced democratic socialism and recently said he believes in it “even more,” framing it as a way to prioritize working people.
“Here we have a former president embracing a socialist; this is the direction this party is going in,” Concha said. “Outside of Chicago and Minneapolis, not sure this is something American people want at this point in time.”