Bill Ackman Says Democratic Party Is 'Radicalized,' Calls Pritzker and Newsom 'Disasters'

Billionaire investor Bill Ackman, founder of Pershing Square, delivered a sharp critique of the Democratic Party in an interview on "The Katie Miller Podcast," which posted on a Tuesday. According to the report, which the New York Post also spotlighted that evening, Ackman said the party is "in the worst place it's ever been in the 250-year history of the country." He described its current direction as "this crazy, radicalized" and "anti-American thing," though he acknowledged that some "very high-quality" Democratic senators remain. "But the party itself, I think, is in a very bad place," he said.

Ackman argued that career politicians face a binary choice: "You either have to get with the party in order to continue or you get primaried." He directed criticism at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, whom he said he once considered a good man with whom he had a good relationship. Lately, Ackman said, Schumer is "just trying to keep his job," which he characterized as a low point in politicians compromising their values. He also referenced a "quasi-terrorist perhaps running for Senate in Michigan." Ackman did not name the candidate, but Michigan's Democratic Senate nominee is Abdul El-Sayed, who faces Republican Mike Rogers. "I find that pretty deeply concerning," Ackman said.

Asked whether anyone on the left could win him back, Ackman said, "I haven't seen a good presidential candidate," and called Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and California Gov. Gavin Newsom "disasters." He said he still counts many Democrats as friends, including Sen. Cory Booker, whom he called "a wonderful human being."

Ackman also disputed the characterization of him as a lifelong Democrat, stating, "So I was always a centrist. I didn't align with a party." He said he registered as a Democrat so his vote would count in New York City primaries. His comments signal a public break with the party's direction, expressed on a widely distributed podcast.