For the first time in nearly two decades, the Democratic Party in the United States finds itself at a crossroads, battered by a historic loss of the popular vote and the return of Donald Trump to the White House. The party’s old guard, once confident in its centrist approach, now faces a groundswell of unrest from within, as progressive and socialist challengers step into the spotlight in cities across the country. The mood among Democratic leadership is tense, with party elders attempting to rally support through familiar chants and symbolic gestures, but their grip on the party’s direction appears to be slipping fast.
Nowhere is this internal upheaval more apparent than in New York City, where Zohran Mamdani clinched the Democratic mayoral primary in June 2025. According to UnHerd, Mamdani’s campaign was built on a platform of city-run grocery stores, rent freezes, and free public buses—policies that would have seemed radical just a few years ago. Yet, his focus on affordability and cost-of-living issues resonated deeply with voters, shifting the entire conversation of the race away from traditional law-and-order themes and toward questions of who the city truly serves.
Mamdani’s victory set off ripples far beyond New York. In Minneapolis, Omar Fateh, another candidate backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, surged to the forefront of the mayoral race. Fateh’s platform, as detailed by UnHerd, includes sweeping rent controls, a $20 minimum wage, and free city transit. Notably, the Minneapolis Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, the state’s version of the Democrats, broke with a 16-year tradition to endorse Fateh over incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey. This endorsement cemented Fateh’s position as a frontrunner in the general election later this year, even as state Governor Tim Walz threw his support behind Frey.
The progressive wave is not confined to the East Coast or the Midwest. In Seattle, Katie Wilson appears poised to unseat Mayor Bruce Harrell in the Democratic primary, promising affordable housing and improved public transit. Her campaign rhetoric, which takes aim at "career politicians backed by corporate interests" and the city’s rising costs and homelessness, echoes the populist energy that has animated progressive campaigns elsewhere. Meanwhile, in Albuquerque, Alex Uballez is mounting a challenge to Mayor Tim Keller, focusing squarely on income and housing inequality.
Michael Baharaeen, chief political analyst at the Liberal Patriot newsletter, summed up the shift: “Cost of living has for several years in a row now been top of mind for voters at all levels of elections. For better or worse, this new contingent of socialist and progressive candidates has a message on this stuff. They are speaking about things—whether they’re workable ideas or not—that people really care about.”
But skepticism remains. Critics argue that proposals like Mamdani’s plan to tax wealthier neighborhoods more heavily or Fateh’s support for progressive causes represent a new phase of "wokeness" rather than a genuine break from it. Michael Lind, a political economist and contributor to UnHerd, questioned the authenticity of the working-class appeal: “When I hear a politician being described as economically populist, I want to see if the working class is actually voting for them or not. The public grocery store idea does not come from the working class—it comes from the nonprofit sector. It’s a classic case of ‘pity charity liberalism.’”
Indeed, in the New York primary, former Governor Andrew Cuomo managed to win among lower-income and Black voters, the only two groups he carried, suggesting that Mamdani’s coalition may not yet fully reflect the working class. Nonetheless, Mamdani appears to be adjusting his approach. In a notable gesture after a tragic Midtown shooting, he visited the family of a slain police officer directly after returning from his wedding trip. He also distanced himself from earlier calls to defund the police, acknowledging these were "out of step." Such moves hint at a pragmatic shift, if not a full embrace of more moderate positions.
The influence of these progressive campaigns has been unmistakable. Cuomo, initially focused on public safety, found himself adopting Mamdani’s visual style and economic messaging in his campaign relaunch. What began as a referendum on crime became a debate over housing and affordability—issues that have become central to Democratic contests nationwide.
This ideological realignment is not limited to domestic policy. Within the Democratic Party, attitudes toward Israel have shifted dramatically, particularly in the wake of the 2025 Gaza war. Progressive lawmakers, emboldened by grassroots support, have adopted more critical stances. Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland described as a "big lie" the claim that Hamas systematically stole UN aid, while 24 Democratic senators backed efforts to block over $675 million in arms sales to Israel. In the House, 13 progressives signed a letter urging the Trump administration to recognize a Palestinian state, and at least one lawmaker plans to introduce a pro-statehood resolution.
During a recent mayoral debate, candidates were asked which foreign country they would visit first if elected. Most named Israel, but Mamdani broke ranks, saying he would stay in New York to visit local synagogues and connect with Jewish New Yorkers—a move that won applause from progressives and even some on the right. The debate over Israel’s conduct in Gaza has become a litmus test, with centrist Democrats struggling to find a coherent stance. As UnHerd observed, the moderate wing’s consensus seems to be to criticize the Netanyahu government but not Israel itself, leading to some awkward moments in the media and online.
This ferment is being felt at the ballot box, too. Across safe blue districts, a new generation of Democrats—almost all under 40—are challenging long-serving incumbents. In New York, a 26-year-old Jewish democratic socialist is taking on Rep. Dan Goldman, inspired by Mamdani’s campaign. In California, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi faces a primary challenge from a former aide to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Illinois and open Senate races in New Hampshire and Michigan are also seeing progressive Gen X and Millennial candidates step forward.
Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive physician running in Michigan, told Politico that his stance on Gaza is "a symbol for something greater. Gaza, unfortunately, has become a Rorschach test for values. Do your morals apply anywhere and everywhere?"
Polling analysis by Split Ticket found that Democrats now view their own party as negatively as Republicans did in the years before Trump’s rise, with 62% calling for party leaders to be replaced. The anti-establishment sentiment that once fueled the GOP’s populist turn is now shaking the foundations of the Democratic Party.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stands out as a potential figure to bridge the party’s divides. She enjoys the highest net approval of any Democrat not running for president and has managed to operate independently of the party’s machinery. But whether she—or any progressive challenger—can reach beyond the base to win over moderates and independents remains an open question. As Karl Rove put it on Fox News, "the more that we get people like this representing the face of the Democratic Party, the harder it is [for them] to win back voters in the middle of American politics."
Ultimately, the success of this new progressive wave depends on their ability to focus on bread-and-butter issues like cost of living and entitlement programs, while avoiding divisive slogans and policies. The victories of Mamdani, Fateh, and others may soon legitimize a new template for Democratic politics—one rooted in economic populism and skepticism of the establishment. As the party leadership scrambles to keep up, it’s becoming clear that what once looked like a fringe movement is now reshaping the very core of the Democratic Party.
