Progressives Are an Asset for the Democratic Party. It Should Treat Them That Way. – The Nation
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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks at the third Annual Women's Rally and March in New York. (Lev Radin / Shutterstock)
EDITORS NOTE: Each week we cross-post an excerpt from Katrina vanden Heuvels column at the WashingtonPost.com. Read the full text of Katrinas column here.
Join the Nation Festival for four days of essential conversation and commentary in the wake of the 2020 election.
Join the Nation Festival for four days of essential conversation and commentary in the wake of the 2020 election.
Is the growing progressive wing of the Democratic Party an asset or a liability? Do the largest citizen mobilizations in historygalvanized by the Black Lives Matter demonstrationsalienate more US voters than they bring to the polls? Before the presidential election was called on Saturday, and even as citizens filled the streets celebrating Joe Bidens projected victory over President Trump, recriminations were flying among Democrats distraught over the unexpected loss of House seats and their narrowed hopes of winning a Senate majority.
First-term Representative Abigail Spanberger (Va.), a former CIA analyst considered by many a centrist Democrat, reportedly blamed liberals who talked about socialism and defunding the police for losses in contested suburban districts. Veteran Representative James E. Clyburn (S.C.), the third-ranking Democrat in the House, reportedly cautioned against running on Medicare for All or socialized medicine.
Before Democrats continue down this road, they should consider: Many of the progressive wings big ideas enjoy greater support than most Democratic candidates.
Read the full text of Katrinas column here.
See original here:
Progressives Are an Asset for the Democratic Party. It Should Treat Them That Way. - The Nation
- Matthew Syed: Condemn settlers, yes, but beware progressives sinister coalition - The Times - October 4th, 2026 [October 4th, 2026]
- For Progressives, Big Tech is Becoming the New Big Oil - theamericanconservative.com - October 4th, 2026 [October 4th, 2026]
- Progressives need their own story of national renewal Interviews - IPS Journal - October 4th, 2026 [October 4th, 2026]
- Michigan and California Races Test Progressives Broad Appeal - Bloomberg Government News - October 4th, 2026 [October 4th, 2026]
- What a year 2022 has been. So, now what progressives? Tell us your thoughts! - actionnetwork.org - October 4th, 2026 [October 4th, 2026]
- Good Morning, News: Mayor Campaigns Against Progressives, Cyclists Protest Moda Deal, and Trump Uses YOUR Money to Spread Hate - Portland Mercury - October 4th, 2026 [October 4th, 2026]
- Abdul El-Sayed Is Making Headway But Not Just With Progressives - Arab America - October 4th, 2026 [October 4th, 2026]
- The 'Progressives' are not yet ready to work in opposition or in the ruling coalition - Inbox.eu - October 4th, 2026 [October 4th, 2026]
- Progressives' party member expelled over nature of relations with minor / Article - LSM - October 4th, 2026 [October 4th, 2026]
- In North America, the most votes in the Saeima elections were cast for the 'Progressives', 'New Unity', and 'United List' - Inbox.lv - October 4th, 2026 [October 4th, 2026]
- So What Are Progressives Supposed to Do About Public Education? - Slate Magazine - September 28th, 2026 [September 28th, 2026]
- Opinion | Real progressives go to the library - The Pitt News - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Nikole Hannah-Jones and the hard bigotry of progressives - The Spectator - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- The Kirkaversary speaks to the sickness of progressives - spiked-online.com - September 17th, 2026 [September 17th, 2026]
- Chicago mayor bets progressives will turn out for him in announcing reelection bid - Politico - September 17th, 2026 [September 17th, 2026]
- Republicans talk about the national debt. Its up to progressives to fix it. - ajc.com - September 17th, 2026 [September 17th, 2026]
- Mayor Johnson embarks on reelection bid, says hes best choice in race between real progressives and posers - Chicago Sun-Times - September 17th, 2026 [September 17th, 2026]
- Progressives Supply the Vocabulary. Islamists Supply the Narrative - The Times of Israel - September 17th, 2026 [September 17th, 2026]
- Hasan Piker cheerleads progressives as 80-year-old senator wins six more years - Fox News - September 8th, 2026 [September 8th, 2026]
- DNC Chair Ken Martin on progressives growing the Democratic coalition - Yahoo - September 8th, 2026 [September 8th, 2026]
- Bernie and Mamdani did it, can the rest of the progressives? Democracy and society - IPS Journal - September 8th, 2026 [September 8th, 2026]
- Merkur brings linked progressives and new cabinets to G2E 2026 - Yogonet - September 8th, 2026 [September 8th, 2026]
- Policy Pro: Council progressives push fall housing agenda - The Real Deal - September 8th, 2026 [September 8th, 2026]
- Transcript: How Progressives Can Revive the Police Reform Movement - The New Republic - September 8th, 2026 [September 8th, 2026]
- Progressives are learning the hard way how to survive Fox News - Politico - August 31st, 2026 [August 31st, 2026]
- Senator Markey fields national progressives to make his case in primary race against Moulton - The Boston Globe - August 31st, 2026 [August 31st, 2026]
- Progressives Warn Democrats Endlessly Invoking Hasan Piker to 'Get Their Shit Together' - Common Dreams - August 31st, 2026 [August 31st, 2026]
- In the Age of Trump, Progressives Should Stand Up for Sovereignty - Inkstick Media - August 27th, 2026 [August 27th, 2026]
- Aspiring politician? NJ progressives are actively recruiting candidates for 2027. - Gothamist - August 27th, 2026 [August 27th, 2026]
- Democrats and progressives wrestle with the Woke 1.0 era - Yahoo - August 27th, 2026 [August 27th, 2026]
- Democrats and progressives wrestle with the Woke 1.0 era - The Week - August 27th, 2026 [August 27th, 2026]
- Mass. primary is pitting new progressives against old-school organized labor - Spectrum News - August 27th, 2026 [August 27th, 2026]
- Are Too Many Vancouver Progressives Running for Mayor? - The Tyee - August 27th, 2026 [August 27th, 2026]
- Two Black Progressives Made History Tuesday Night. Neither Waited for Permission. - The Root - August 27th, 2026 [August 27th, 2026]
- The Information State: Progressives Road to Dystopia - Mises Institute - August 27th, 2026 [August 27th, 2026]
- Democratic star AOC caught in balancing act between progressives and centrists - The Observer - August 27th, 2026 [August 27th, 2026]
- Why are progressives winning across the United States? Its not complicated | Bernie Sanders - The Guardian - August 22nd, 2026 [August 22nd, 2026]
- In a Big Year for Progressives, Heres Why These Moderates Won Their Primaries - The New York Times - August 22nd, 2026 [August 22nd, 2026]
- South Korean progressives' 'Park Chung-hee' coalition in the AI era - Nikkei Asia - August 22nd, 2026 [August 22nd, 2026]
- Trump and Vance lead GOP midterm push as progressives head to Uruguay - Fox News - August 22nd, 2026 [August 22nd, 2026]
- Progressives are rising, but Black voters arent sold - Yahoo - August 22nd, 2026 [August 22nd, 2026]
- Hillary Clinton to host karaoke night for progressives in NYC - Washington Examiner - August 22nd, 2026 [August 22nd, 2026]
- Fox News: Get these sexy progressives away from my hungry eyes - Daily Kos - August 22nd, 2026 [August 22nd, 2026]
- Hillary Clinton to host karaoke night for progressives in NYC - Denver Gazette - August 22nd, 2026 [August 22nd, 2026]
- Suffolk Dem progressives on the prowl - Newsday - August 22nd, 2026 [August 22nd, 2026]
- Its Obvious Now Why Woke 1 Failed. I Have an Idea for How Progressives Can Be Less Annoying Next Time. - slate.com - August 22nd, 2026 [August 22nd, 2026]
- Top 5 most heated moments as progressives spar over who is farther to the left in final Dem Senate debate - Fox News - August 22nd, 2026 [August 22nd, 2026]
- Hey progressives: Shoplifting isnt need, its just plain greed - New York Post - August 22nd, 2026 [August 22nd, 2026]
- Progressives are on the march. Can they break Beacon Hill's status quo? - MassLive - August 22nd, 2026 [August 22nd, 2026]
- Opinion | The AI Emergency Is Already Hereand Progressives Must Confront It - Common Dreams - August 22nd, 2026 [August 22nd, 2026]
- Bernie Sanders has a response for progressives upset over Hongs loss in Wisconsin - Politico - August 16th, 2026 [August 16th, 2026]
- Progressives back substitute teacher over Wasserman Schultz in Florida - theguardian.com - August 16th, 2026 [August 16th, 2026]
- Before todays progressives, there were Conyers and Jackson | Thompson - The Detroit News - August 16th, 2026 [August 16th, 2026]
- GOP targets progressives as frustration over economy grows - The Hill - August 16th, 2026 [August 16th, 2026]
- Opinion | Progressives in 2026 Are in a Catch-22 - WSJ - August 16th, 2026 [August 16th, 2026]
- Major tests for progressives and Trump are on tap in Tuesdays primaries - NBC News - August 16th, 2026 [August 16th, 2026]
- Progressives see a win and a loss in Minnesota and Wisconsin Democratic primaries - prismreports.org - August 16th, 2026 [August 16th, 2026]
- Op-Ed: Progressives Are Winning the Future of Washington's Legislature - The Urbanist - August 16th, 2026 [August 16th, 2026]
- Trump ally loses, mixed results for progressives: takeaways from primaries in Minnesota, Wisconsin and beyond - theguardian.com - August 16th, 2026 [August 16th, 2026]
- Progressives are on the cusp of a huge win. Their biggest stars are staying away. - Politico - August 16th, 2026 [August 16th, 2026]
- Francesca Hongs loss in Wisconsin is a win for progressives - salon.com - August 16th, 2026 [August 16th, 2026]
- Why AOC and other progressives are backing off Woke 1 - vox.com - August 16th, 2026 [August 16th, 2026]
- Could progressives win over long-term Delaware Democrats? - Bay to Bay News - August 16th, 2026 [August 16th, 2026]
- CO-1 candidate Shimon Blau courts progressives after years of mocking them - 9News - August 16th, 2026 [August 16th, 2026]
- What Abdul El-Sayeds victory says about progressives, outsiders and the Democratic Party - ThePrint - August 16th, 2026 [August 16th, 2026]
- The Campaign Tactics Helping Progressives Win Primaries Ahead of the 2026 Midterms - The New York Times - August 11th, 2026 [August 11th, 2026]
- Progressives' wave of success meets choppy waters in Hawaii - USA Today - August 11th, 2026 [August 11th, 2026]
- Progressives look to shake up Beacon Hill as Sept. 1 primary nears. The key races and why they matter - MassLive.com - August 11th, 2026 [August 11th, 2026]
- Opinion | Without the Working Class, There's Only So Much Progressives Can Win - Common Dreams - August 11th, 2026 [August 11th, 2026]
- Progressives must ditch the all-or-nothing approach - The Seattle Times - August 11th, 2026 [August 11th, 2026]
- Progressives Rack Up Primary Wins, Testing Democratic Assumptions Ahead of the Midterms - Time Magazine - August 11th, 2026 [August 11th, 2026]
- The Democratic party needs to do more than represent wealthy progressives | Dustin Guastella - The Guardian - August 11th, 2026 [August 11th, 2026]
- Progressives expand their reach and money finds its limit: Takeaways from Tuesdays primaries - NBC News - August 11th, 2026 [August 11th, 2026]
- Progressives didnt get the big election night they wanted - Politico - August 11th, 2026 [August 11th, 2026]
- Wisconsin is the latest test for progressives, the electability argument and, soon, party unity - Straight Arrow - August 11th, 2026 [August 11th, 2026]
- Primaries in the Midwest have become a high stakes proving ground for progressives - NPR - August 11th, 2026 [August 11th, 2026]
- Key Election Takeaways From Progressives Big Night - wsj.com - August 11th, 2026 [August 11th, 2026]
- Primaries takeaways: Progressives score big wins and turn to November - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - August 11th, 2026 [August 11th, 2026]
- How White Progressives Co-Opting Woke Harmed the Black Community - Emerald Book - August 11th, 2026 [August 11th, 2026]
- El-Sayed gives progressives another victory and a new challenge - The Washington Post - August 11th, 2026 [August 11th, 2026]