Staff Reports
Democrats are facing a full-blown generational tug-of-war as the party scrambles to find its footing against a resurgent Donald Trump. With President Biden’s standing weakened after the 2024 election debacle and the old guard clinging to power, the party’s internal drama has become a spectacle. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, now 35 and eligible for the presidency, is drawing massive crowds and record fundraising hauls on her national tour, fueling speculation that she could be the Democrats’ next standard-bearer. Her “Fighting Oligarchy” rallies with Bernie Sanders have energized the left, but her radical platform raises serious doubts about her ability to win over the working-class voters the party has been hemorrhaging to Trump’s GOP.
Meanwhile, the Democratic National Committee’s vice chair, David Hogg, is openly declaring war on his party’s entrenched incumbents. Hogg’s group, Leaders We Deserve, is pledging $20 million to primary “asleep-at-the-wheel” Democrats in safe blue districts, betting that a crop of twenty- and thirty-somethings can inject life into a party many see as out of touch and stale. This unprecedented move is already causing friction with party leadership, who have traditionally protected incumbents at all costs. The result? A party at war with itself, with no clear message or unifying vision beyond opposing Trump.
On the ground, young progressives like 26-year-old Kat Abughazaleh are launching primary challenges against veteran lawmakers, channeling grassroots frustration that Democrats aren’t fighting hard enough against Trump or addressing the economic pain felt by ordinary Americans. These newcomers are rejecting the glitzy, donor-driven politics of the past in favor of community-based activism. But while their passion is undeniable, it’s an open question whether their far-left ideas can win over the broader electorate or if they’ll simply fracture the party further.
Yet the old guard isn’t going quietly. Nancy Pelosi, at 85, is refusing to step aside, filing for reelection and continuing to wield enormous influence over party strategy. Her message is one of experience and unity, urging Democrats to rally together rather than splinter. But younger Democrats are openly questioning whether leaders like Pelosi and Schumer are capable of adapting to the new political reality, or if their decades-old playbook is part of the problem.
For Republicans, this Democratic infighting is almost entertaining to watch. While the GOP rallies behind a proven and battle-tested Trump, Democrats are mired in a soap opera of generational angst and ideological confusion. Until they settle on a coherent vision and leadership, Democrats are likely to remain on the sidelines, watching as Trump’s populist coalition continues to expand. The Democrats’ quest for new blood may make for good headlines, but unless they can unite around a message that resonates beyond their progressive base, it’s hard to see them mounting a serious challenge in 2028.
