For decades, the Democratic Party has been a tapestry woven from powerful regional threads, each with its own interests, priorities, and ambitions. As the United States approaches another pivotal election cycle, understanding the party’s internal dynamics has never been more crucial. The so-called “Five Families” of the Democratic Party—San Francisco, Minneapolis, New York, Chicago, and South Carolina—are at the heart of this political drama, each vying for influence as the party charts its course toward the White House and Congress.
At the center of the current power structure is the San Francisco family, whose recent dominance is largely credited to Nancy Pelosi, affectionately dubbed 'The Gavel.' According to David Marcus in his analysis for The Daily Mail, Pelosi has transformed what was once considered a fringe outpost into the party’s most formidable force. Over the past several years, she not only blocked the second-term ambitions of President Joe Biden but also handpicked fellow San Franciscan Kamala Harris as his successor. This strategic maneuvering has left a lasting imprint on the party’s leadership pipeline.
Pelosi’s influence is evident in the current Democratic presidential primary landscape. As of December 13, 2025, California Governor Gavin Newsom—nicknamed 'The Peacock' and another product of the San Francisco political machine—is leading the party’s primary polling. This continued prominence underscores how the San Francisco family has managed to set the tone for the party’s leftward shift, even as Pelosi steps away from the limelight.
Yet, San Francisco’s reputation as the party’s most progressive faction is now being challenged from the north. The Minneapolis family, led by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, is carving out a reputation for even more left-leaning politics. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, described as an advocate for reparations, has become a symbol of the family’s ambitious legislative vision—one that includes redistributive policies aimed at supporting immigrant communities, notably Minnesota’s sizable Somali population. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, for his part, has become a lightning rod for debates over cultural change in the Midwest, narrowly surviving a recent election challenge from within the Somali community itself. As Marcus notes, “This family is small, for now, but very dangerous.”
Meanwhile, the New York family—long a bastion of Democratic power in Washington—finds itself in a rare state of disarray. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries maintain their grip on the party’s establishment, but younger, more radical voices are making waves. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and recently elected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani have assembled a formidable socialist bloc, challenging the old guard on issues like Israel and pushing for a more progressive agenda. The resulting generational tension is palpable, with established figures like Dan Goldman facing tough primary threats from the party’s left flank.
Chicago’s influence, once solidified by Barack Obama’s rise to the presidency, appears to be waning. Obama, often regarded as the national boss of bosses, has seen his moderate approach fall out of favor as Democratic voters increasingly demand unapologetic progressivism. Rahm Emanuel’s attempts to present a centrist face have met with limited success, and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is now gaining national attention by positioning himself as a consistent critic of former President Donald Trump. As Marcus observes, “This is precisely why we see JB ‘Double Cheeseburger’ Pritzker making his move into national prominence by being a pebble in the shoe of President Donald Trump whenever and wherever he can.”
Yet for all the shifting winds in the party’s northern and coastal strongholds, the South Carolina family remains a force to be reckoned with. Led by Jim Clyburn, known as 'The Kingmaker,' this faction has played a pivotal role in recent presidential primaries and is now pushing to make the South Carolina primary the first in the nation. Clyburn’s moderate approach has repeatedly checked the ambitions of more left-leaning figures like Bernie Sanders. The question now is whether he can continue to hold off the next generation of progressive challengers.
Amidst these internal battles, the legacy of Nancy Pelosi looms large—both as a symbol of the party’s enduring power structures and as a subject of intense scrutiny. Since announcing she would not seek re-election, retrospectives have focused on her legislative accomplishments and, yes, even her prowess in stock trading. However, as AEI scholar Matt Weidinger notes in a recent analysis, there has been a conspicuous absence of praise for one of Pelosi’s favorite themes: her oft-repeated commitment to children.
Pelosi’s tenure saw her champion major laws such as the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), the Inflation Reduction Act, and the American Rescue Plan Act. Her successor, Hakeem Jeffries, lauded these achievements, stating, “For the children, as she often says, Speaker Pelosi has lived out the bedrock Jesuit value of working for the greater good.” Yet, as Weidinger points out, these laws contain few enduring policies specifically focused on children. The most prominent “children’s issue” in Obamacare is the extension of coverage to “adult children” under their parents’ insurance, but the law’s broader legacy includes soaring health insurance costs that have compounded the housing affordability crisis for young adults.
San Francisco itself, Pelosi’s home base, is emblematic of these demographic shifts. According to Newsweek, the Bay Area has seen a 38 percent drop in children under five since 2005, and the 2020 Census confirms that San Francisco now has the fewest children of any U.S. city. This trend has contributed to historic lows in birth rates and a continuing decline in the number of children nationwide—an irony not lost on critics of Pelosi’s legacy.
The American Rescue Plan Act did include a temporary expansion of the child tax credit, which Pelosi hailed as “transformative for children.” She was fond of saying, “As I always say, the three most important issues facing our Congress are our children, our children, our children.” However, the expanded credit was short-lived, lapsing after just one year when even some Democrats balked at its lack of work requirements. Senator Joe Manchin, then a critical swing vote, summarized the opposition: “There’s no work requirements whatsoever. . . . Don’t you think, if we’re going to help children, that the people should make some effort?”
Liberal advocates were similarly disappointed when the Inflation Reduction Act omitted new entitlements for child care, and a federal paid leave program for parents failed to materialize. Food stamp expansions favored childless adults over families with children, and federal spending on children is projected to decline further as spending on seniors and debt interest rises. “Congress Has Bankrupted America’s Future,” one headline bluntly summarized, noting that federal debt soared by over $14 trillion during Pelosi’s eight years as Speaker.
As the Democratic Party’s Five Families maneuver for supremacy over the next two years, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The outcome will determine not only who leads the party into the next election, but also what kind of future it offers the next generation—children included. The question remains: which family will produce a nominee who can make American voters an offer they can’t refuse?
