EXCERPT:
VAN HOLLEN: "I’m not concerned about DSA candidates. My view is the Democratic Party should be a big tent party and that we should welcome debate. And people who want to shut down debate, they're afraid of ideas. I think we should be a big tent party. We should welcome different ideas. You know, we ask Democrats, as we should, to say, 'Let’s select Joe Manchin in West Virginia because he’s the guy who can get elected in West Virginia.' That’s great. I don’t agree with Joe Manchin on everything. And we should elect other candidates like Zohran Mamdani or others. I don’t agree with them on everything, either, but they are bringing young people and others into the Democratic Party. And so I was very critical of some of the Democratic leadership in the House and Senate when, after Zohran Mamdani became the Democratic nominee for mayor, they still wouldn't endorse him. Now, if we’re going to be a big tent party, we need to embrace all Democrats and all people who are going to put — who are going to be part of the Democratic Party. So, no, I’m not scared of ideas. I welcome ideas. And I don’t think the Democratic Party should try to shun anybody.”
