I remember being a middle schooler watching President Trump’s first impeachment trial in Congress. While Trump’s defense that the trial was a “witch hunt” was definitely misleading, there was an element of truth to it. I imagine the feeling I had watching the C-SPAN vote counter is comparable to that of a zealous 14-year-old watching a witch get exorcised by his local church in the 16th century.
I apologize for the gruesome analogy, but the point still stands. There was fervor and faith. There was a feeling that—maybe—justice would be served and that the Democrats were a competent opposition party. Now? Not so much. Since then, I have registered to vote as an Independent, but I want to see progress that will make me change my mind.
A recent poll from Quinnipiac University shows that 56 percent of voters view the Democrats unfavorably, compared to 53 percent unfavorability for the Republicans. That is a small gap, but it shows that there is enough significant dissatisfaction with both the status quo and the opposition. Compare these statistics to the poll numbers from President Biden’s second year in office—2022—where Republicans were at 63 percent, and Democrats were at 55 percent. In February, AP found that approval among Democrats for their own party fell from 85 percent to 67 percent from September 2024 to October 2025.
These polls show a growing dissatisfaction in a party whose platform is not resonating with its base of support. The Republicans have had a decade-long coalition between the traditional moderates and conservatives and the MAGA populists. Even the younger underground alt-right factions, such as the Groypers and the Manosphere, are considered part of the in-group. While this alliance is dysfunctional, and cracks are forming due to the Iran War, both antisemitism along with anti-Zionism and the handling of the Epstein Files, the Republican Party is more or less unified.
In the internet’s marketplace of ideas, many prominent conservative commentators and influencers exist in a competitive ecosystem. Talking heads like Tucker Carlson, Ben Shapiro, Candace Owens and Nick Fuentes disagree on specific issues—namely the United States intervention in the Middle East and support for Israel—but still generally align with the Republican Party and the MAGA movement.
Within Congress, voting records show that Republicans rarely break from GOP-supported legislation pushes. Partially, this is due to fear of Trump and his supporters’ wrath, which caused the unsuccessful re-election campaign of former representative Liz Cheney and the resignation of former representative Marjorie Taylor Greene. Democrat agendas, however, seem to be on the defensive due to the Republicans’ slim majority in the House of Representatives.
On March 28, Democrats and Republicans reached a spending agreement to fund TSA during the Department of Homeland Security shutdown. While Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer congratulated his party for not backing down on their demands, this agreement did not include the limitations on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Control that the Democrats initially bargained for. The point of the Democrat-led shutdown is to curtail ICE’s horrific actions and lack of internal accountability after lethally shooting multiple U.S. citizens. However, top Democrats get more excited when bipartisan deals are made than when their party gets actual electoral victories.
This recent mayoral election in New York City has confused me about the ethos of the Democrats. When I see the Republicans, I see a united campaign against threats—unfortunately, being “Wokeism” and welfare programs—they see as real and imminent. Republicans have a view of a country they are aiming for, while Democrats have contradictory ideals. Zohran Mamdani, the victor of the election, promised a progressive social democracy in New York, featuring free buses, public-owned grocery stores and affordable housing projects. His rival in both the primary and the general election, disgraced former Governor Andrew Cuomo, promised remarkably similar projects, including affordable housing and care for the homeless, but with a tired and moderate flair that failed to rally Democrats against Mamdani. Even though they shared many goals, Cuomo characterized Mamdani’s platform as unrealistic. Also, the former governor’s sexual abuse allegations loomed over his campaign and disturbed voters. Despite Mamdani swinging the party nomination away from Cuomo, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries waited 10 days before the election to endorse the Mayor, and Sentor Schumer refused to endorse any of the candidates. Both represent New York in Congress.
This election showcased the progressive-moderate split within the Democratic Party that needs to be addressed before 2028. Personally, I cannot—in good conscience at least—support a party whose champion calls for a continued military global reign of terror as Kamala Harris did two years ago. I cannot follow an ethos that neglects its progressive wing over fears of losing its reach with moderates and conservatives.
Hasan Piker, a prominent online commentator and occasional ally of Bernie Sanders, Ro Khanna and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, said in a recent live stream that, “[Establishment Democrat leaders] don’t want these guys that represent a different opinion, that want to actually do right by their constituents.” Compare this rhetoric with a recent op-ed from USA News that declared, “The Democratic Party’s base wants bold progressive policy, but the general electorate seems more moderate.” What the author, Nicole Russell, missed is that a party’s primary duty is to meet the demands of their base. Doing so is how Mamdani defeated a political dynasty with his pragmatic idealism—not just in a sensationalist manner, but through getting a split base of New Yorkers excited about civic duty and grassroots movements.
This type of populist idealism, which is both radically progressive and willing to compromise, is what the Democrats need if they want to stay relevant and build a left-wing coalition. The younger generation of democratic socialists can take the visionary charge, while the older liberals and moderates can focus on the details and logistics. All for a unified front that is for a progressive vision of America, rather than primarily against whatever MAGA wants to do. If this does not happen, and the two sides of the party are incompatible, then it may just be that there needs to be a new political party to house either side.
I believe it is necessary to keep tabs on the party, and if I could vote in a primary with a competition between a progressive and a moderate, then I would gleefully register as a Democrat. However, when the 2028 presidential primary arrives, if the status quo of a waffling, unlikable party is maintained, then I will not be handing my voter registration to the Democrats.
Brilliant