A New Era For The Democratic Party

     Democratic platforms are, for the most part, overwhelmingly popular. Younger generations, especially, are moving left, as are people of color, who will soon comprise the majority of Americans. Gay rights are as popular as racial justice; trans rights are now supported by the majority; the right to organize has built on a decade of increased support to reach its highest level since the Nixon administration; the climate emergency is recognized by three out of four Americans; 70 percent of Americans support a woman's right to choose; the supermajority support things like paid leave, universal childcare, and a $15 minimum wage; nearly every American supports at least decriminalizing marijuana; the death penalty continues to die; and on and on and on. Our biggest obstacle since the 1990s has been people feeling that "both parties are the same," that there is no real choice.

     Last month, the FBI raided the home of Representative Henry Cuellar, the last anti-abortion House Democrat, raising the likelihood that his primary challenger, Jessica Cisneros, a progressive Democrat whom Cuellar managed to beat only by a 51-48 margin in the 2020 primaries, will get the nomination when the election is held in the coming weeks. It felt symbolic.

     In the House, there are 95 members of the House Progressive Caucus compared to 19 members of the moderate "Blue Dog Caucus," almost all of whom are facing progressive primary challengers in their home states. The Progressive Caucus didn't become mainstream until 2016; it appears that it will become the majority Democratic caucus by 2026 or sooner.

     Just look at the Senate. The last two moderate Democrats are already facing primary challengers for their 2024 races, especially Kyrsten Sinema. With democracy and civil liberties under attack more than ever, now is the time for Democrats to clean up a few misplaced members of our own ranks, starting with protecting a woman's right to choose. There are just two anti-choice Democratic senators: Joe Manchin and Bob Casey, Jr. If Cuellar, Manchin, and Casey are defeated in 2022 and 2024 alongside Governor John Bel Edwards, who is term limited and will not be eligible for a third term in the state's 2023 election, there will be no anti-choice Democrats at the state and federal level by 2025.

     There are other issues, from gun control to climate change to criminal justice reform to workers' rights and LGBT2SQIA+ and women's rights. However, primarying the four aforementioned politicians would at least cover voting rights and reproductive rights, and that's a place to start in this progressive progression, a new era for the Democratic Party.