- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Allendale Today
By the People, for the People
Former Obama Aide Rahm Emanuel Criticizes Democrats' Focus on Identity Politics
In a moderated discussion at Wofford College, Emanuel says the party has lost its way by prioritizing divisive issues over helping people.
Apr. 2, 2026 at 9:08am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Rahm Emanuel, a former White House chief of staff and Chicago mayor, spoke at Wofford College in South Carolina as part of a moderated discussion series. During the event, Emanuel criticized the Democratic Party for focusing too much on identity politics, saying the party has lost its way and needs to refocus on helping people.
Why it matters
As a long-time Democratic politician, Emanuel's criticism of his own party's priorities carries weight. His comments reflect a growing sentiment among some Democrats that the party has become overly focused on divisive social issues at the expense of addressing the real concerns of voters.
The details
During the moderated discussion with TODAY Show co-host Craig Melvin, Emanuel said he believes the Democratic Party has become a 'caricature' that the Republican Party can easily mock. He argued the party needs to shift its focus away from identity politics and back towards making tangible changes that improve people's lives.
- The event took place on April 1, 2026 at Wofford College in South Carolina.
- Emanuel is also expected to visit several other South Carolina counties as part of a tour to discuss strengthening the public education system.
The players
Rahm Emanuel
A former White House chief of staff under President Barack Obama, former mayor of Chicago, and former U.S. Representative from Illinois. Emanuel has been a long-time member of the Democratic Party and is rumored to be considering a presidential run in 2028.
Craig Melvin
A co-host of the TODAY Show and a Wofford College graduate, who moderated the discussion with Rahm Emanuel.
What they’re saying
“We lost focus. We have got to get back to actually helping people.”
— Rahm Emanuel, Former White House Chief of Staff
“The last thing the American people want is four more years of this.”
— Rahm Emanuel, Former White House Chief of Staff
What’s next
Emanuel is expected to continue his tour of South Carolina, visiting several counties to discuss strengthening the public education system with local Democratic leaders.
The takeaway
Emanuel's criticism of the Democratic Party's focus on identity politics rather than substantive policy changes reflects a growing sentiment within the party that it needs to refocus its priorities on addressing the real concerns of voters. As a long-time Democratic insider, his comments carry significant weight and could influence the party's strategic direction going forward.
