Al Hunt called it “the politically existential question of winning in November.” The Democratic win he was worried about came on Tuesday in New York, where three candidates backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani won primaries.
Hunt and James Carville, his co-host on the “Politics War Room” podcast, spent Thursday’s episode on one of the winners, democratic socialist Darializa Avila Chevalier. Hunt said the victories may “complicate” that question for the party.
The two men agreed on one point: Republicans are overplaying these candidates by treating them as a preview of where the Democratic Party is headed. They still wanted a firewall to keep them out, citing reporting from The New York Times.
Carville: ‘I’m done’
Carville said Avila Chevalier “has attacked interracial relationships and the American flag.” “Lady, I ain’t in the same party as you,” he said, adding that it is time for Democrats to talk about a “schism.” In his words: “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.”
Democrats have always said they run a big tent, he said, “and there’s just some s— that I can’t be in the same tent with.” His view was that many of the recent far-left candidates do not like the party and run as Democrats anyway.
He was careful on Israel. Questioning the Israeli government’s policies is fine with him, he said. Denying the state’s right to exist is not. “It’s just not doable,” he said.
Hunt on November and AOC
Hunt called the candidates “a great gift to Donald Trump.” He said it would help if Barack Obama and younger Democrats stood up and said, “This is not us.” A weak November for Democrats, in his telling, would let “that group of crazies” sabotage House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries “every step of the way.”
Hunt noted that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez caused trouble early in her career and later turned into a good member. “I don’t think this group has that potential,” he said.
“I don’t either,” Carville answered. “And I think AOC is smart. I could be in the same party with her in many ways.”
