This week, progressives landed major primary victories here in New York, including major races backed by Zohran Mamdani. And the Democratic establishment, like New York’s own Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, are refusing to learn a critical, winning lesson about the Democratic base. Given their total failure to meet the moment, these two should be shaking in their AIPAC-funded boots. Every single corporate Democrat who chooses their PAC-money and genocide over their constituents should count their days in power.
The establishment Dems are crashing out.
In house primary races here in New York, progressive candidates beat out establishment Democrats, focusing on affordability and an end to funding Israeli genocide. The establishment was quick to dismiss the decisive victories for a progressive, economic populist message that delivers materially for the people and prioritizes human rights. Instead of a movement that’s building momentum around the country, Jeffries said that “a handful of primaries that go in one direction or the other in a given state or two aren’t going to reshape who we are as House Democrats.”
We’ll see about that.
Meanwhile, Democratic pundits and strategists are bemoaning the “leftist takeover” of the Democratic Party, as if these candidates are proposing something radical by pushing affordability and human rights.
It’s not enough to be anti-Trump.
After Trump 1.0, the Democratic establishment ran essentially on one message: We’re not Trump. But as we saw plain as day once Trump crashed back into the White House, that’s simply not enough to get voters behind a blue ticket. And given how bought-and-paid-for the establishment’s corporate Dems are, there’s no compelling reason to see them as a clear alternative.
Schumer, for his part, seems to be continuing to toe that party line. This week, he told reporters, “We’re seeing tremendous energy from all different areas of our party. You’re seeing centrist energy in Virginia, Iowa, and New Jersey; progressive energy in New York City. We’re going to harness it all to win in November, because all Democrats are united in the mission of taking back the Senate and defeating Trump.”
I’ve seen progressive victories framed over and over again as rebukes of Trump and nothing else. But let’s look at one house race: NY-10. Brad Lander primaried out the incumbent Dan Goldman, who was as solid an anti-Trump candidate as they get. The man successfully led Trump’s first impeachment proceedings. He had the makings of an anti-Trump superstar. But it wasn’t enough, because Dan Goldman gladly accepted AIPAC money and refused to characterize Israeli’s actions as genocidal — in contrast to the numerous human rights organization, UN reports, and expert opinion. Lander (who, by the way, is proudly Jewish and does not support American financing of Israeli genocide) crushed Goldman this week.
When people have a choice to vote for candidates who aren’t owned, they show up.
New York isn’t alone. We’re seeing progressive victories all over the country. And the message is clear: The Democratic base is fed up. They’re fed up with our tax dollars funding a genocide. They’re fed up with elected officials in the pockets of massive corporations.
Pete Hegseth’s Deranged Pastor
These faith leaders have accrued massive power in Washington, and they don’t give a damn about human dignity or human life.
When will establishment Dems wake up?
Democratic strategists have spent the last ten years wringing their hands and failing to find a solution to the MAGA takeover. Well, we found it.
Every single blue strategist should take note: We know what the people want. Let’s give it to them. Remember, the radical policies pointed to by panicked pundits and consultants are actually perfectly in line with Democratic ideals and history: an FDR-style model of big government that keeps food on the table.
But the so-called leaders of the Democratic Party, Schumer and Jeffries, have taken millions from AIPAC and other pro-Israel groups, private equity, real estate, and other massive corporate interests. They’re more committed to their corporate funders and AIPAC than they are to the actual Democratic base.
If the Dems take back the House in November, Jeffries has a shot at becoming Speaker of the House. But that path will get a bit more complicated as more progressives win — as it should.
Schumer is up for reelection in 2028, and he should be fucking terrified. A statewide poll from May landed him with only a 33% approval rating, which Politico points out is exactly how New Yorkers rate Trump these days. Given how he has capitulated time and time again, it shouldn’t be a surprise. We should primary him to hell and fucking back.
These two cannot meet the moment, so we should show them the door.
