'Nothing democratic about these people': Republican blasts far-left candidates

LEWISTON, MAINE: Republican House Majority Whip Tom Emmer intensified his attacks on the Democratic left, calling candidates such as Abdul El-Sayed “anti-American” six weeks before the 2026 midterm election in November.

Emmer rejected the “democratic socialist” label, saying the candidates he criticized are instead “communists, Marxists and anarchists.”

He made the remarks while campaigning for Republican House candidate Paul LePage in Maine as Republicans defend their congressional majorities, Fox News reported Sunday, October 4.

Tom Emmer targets Democrats' left wing

Emmer specifically targeted Democratic Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, criticizing positions and associations he described as evidence of an “anti-American” outlook.

“You got to be kidding. They want us to call them democratic socialists, there's nothing democratic about these people,” Emmer told Fox News Digital.

Emmer also said El-Sayed “says ridiculous things like US NFL football is an example of toxic masculinity” and accused him of supporting “a t******st who believes that America deserved to lose 3,000 people on 9-11.”

Those were among the claims Emmer used to argue that Republicans should present their candidates as defenders of the country.

“These people are anti-American more than anything else,” Emmer said.

“It's time that we have great candidates like Paul LePage, which is why I'm here, who loves his state, loves this country and believes in the promise of America,” he added.

Emmer said Republicans should emphasize that message rather than focus only on attacks against Democrats.

Republican House Majority Whip makes the case for GOP candidates

The Republican lawmaker's comments came as the party prepares to defend fragile House and Senate majorities in the midterms.

The outlet noted that Republicans face several political challenges, including traditionally losing congressional seats during midterms when their party controls the White House, high grocery and gas costs, an unpopular war with Iran and President Donald Trump's approval ratings.

Emmer nevertheless argued that Democrats' own divisions give Republicans an opening, pointing to what he described as an ideological conflict between the party's left wing and establishment.

He also criticized the Democratic Party's brand while pointing to Republican spending on attack ads as another advantage.

Asked how he would defend the administration's economic record to Republican voters, Emmer blamed the Biden administration for inflation and credited Trump and congressional Republicans with putting the economy “back on track.”

Emmer's economic message follows Trump's El-Sayed criticism 

“First off, remember, the Biden administration put this economy in the ditch, literally,” Emmer said, pointing to inflation that he said had reached levels not seen in 40 years.

He acknowledged that Republicans still need to address voters' concerns about prices.

“We have to be very sensitive to the fact that $4 gas, $6 diesel is unacceptable,” Emmer said.

But he immediately returned to his attack on the Democratic left, arguing that economic dissatisfaction should not outweigh concerns about candidates he considers too far left.

“I would argue it still isn't enough to vote for a communist,” Emmer said.

Emmer's remarks also followed Trump's own criticism of El-Sayed during a September 9 speech in Dallas. 

Trump characterized El-Sayed, along with other Democratic candidates, as someone who “hates family households [and] wants to destroy the American way of life.”