Progressives are on the quiet hunt for a new generation of leaders, eagerly awaiting the outcome of the midterms to plot their next steps. “We’ve been talking about fresh blood for years,” said one Democratic strategist who reluctantly supported President Biden in the 2020 election. “Years! And every time we go back to the dinosaurs…
Author: Hanna Trudo
Democrats disagree on best midterm message: Pro-Biden or anti-Trump?
Democrats are disagreeing over strategy in the final weeks before the midterm elections as the party seeks to retain its slim congressional majorities. The battle centers on how much to link GOP candidates to former President Trump, with one side wanting to go all-in on aggressive campaigns that make the election about “Make American Great…
Will GOP’s crime attack line sink Barnes in Wisconsin?
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this report misstated the circumstances surrounding George Floyd’s death. Wisconsin’s Democratic Senate candidate Mandela Barnes finds himself facing a big question ahead of Election Day: Will voters care about his stance on crime? Democrats from Washington to Wisconsin have taken steps to prioritize policing and public safety ahead of the…
Five scenarios that could help Joe Biden
President Biden is on a roll, hitting his highest point of approval in nearly a year. Yet doubts remain about whether he’ll run for reelection in 2024, as even with the boost, more people disapprove of Biden’s job performance than approve of it. Over the summer, polls suggested many Democrats wanted someone else to represent…
Sunrise Movement endorses Mandela Barnes in Wisconsin Senate race
Mandela Barnes, the Democratic Senate nominee for Wisconsin, has earned the backing of a leading climate group in the countdown to the November general election. The Sunrise Movement is endorsing Barnes against Republican Sen. Ron Johnson (Wis.), according to a memo obtained by The Hill on Wednesday. “Each year it is more clear just how…
Why Buttigieg is sparking 2024 chatter
The ordinarily polished Mayor Pete suddenly was casual. “Who knows,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told Vox Media’s Code Conference when asked last week about the idea of running for president again. “You don’t run for an office — well, maybe some people do — because you always wanted to,” he said. “But I think you run for…
Biden earns plaudits from progressives after anti-Trump speech
Progressives say President Biden finally used his words. Democrats who have wanted the president to go hard against conservatives ahead of the midterms are praising his speech Thursday, in which he blasted “MAGA Republicans” and suggested former President Trump and those aligned with him pose “a threat to this country.” While Biden has signaled over…
Progressives aim to prove they can win in Congress — and at the ballot box
When John Fetterman this week urged President Biden to decriminalize marijuana, he received cheers from all corners of the Democratic electorate. For years, Fetterman, Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor and the party’s Senate nominee, has supported the reform he believes will create a fairer criminal justice system. While Biden didn’t address his request directly, Fetterman’s push is…
Progressives face down disconnect: policy wins, electoral losses
Progressives are facing down a seeming disconnect over what’s politically achievable in Washington and what wins elections back home. On one hand, they’ve won major policy battles from the White House to Capitol Hill this month, moving Democrats beyond what many thought was possible to accomplish under President Biden. On the other, they’ve struggled to…
Progressives hail Biden for action on student loans
Progressives are praising President Biden’s plan on student loans, arguing the move to provide $20,000 in relief to Pell Grant recipients in particular is a real step toward helping the most needy deal with crippling college debt. Biden is canceling up to $10,000 in debt for those making less than $125,000 annually in addition to…