Contenders with questionable judgment vying for Democrat leadership position
New Spin:
The Democratic Party's Playground for Losers
By: Joel Kotkin
June 18, 2025 | Politics | USA
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In this current chapter of the Democratic Party, succumbing to failure seems to be the secret ingredient to success. According to recent polls, the preferred candidates for the 2028 presidential election are a medley of proven losers. Kamala Harris takes the lead, followed by Pete Buttigieg, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), Cory Booker, and the smoothest of them all, California governor Gavin Newsom.
While these candidates might be popular among fellow Democrats, they struggle to appeal beyond party lines. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who has cross-party support in his state, only accumulated a quarter of the support that Harris garnered nationally. Other potential Democrats with a shot at success, such as Kentucky Governor Andrew Beshear and Maryland's Wes Moore, failed to even break into the poll.
For most Democrats, it seems, "the progressive moment" is far from over, despite clear evidence to the contrary. They've shown a reluctance to denounce the recent riots in Los Angeles that dominated headlines. A recent poll found that AOC, who downplayed the riots and blamed them on Donald Trump, is most likely to be considered the face of the Democratic Party, followed by Bernie Sanders and Jasmine Crockett, the foul-mouthed Texas congresswoman. This lineup seems tailor-made for a Republican victory.
Democrats love to preach about upholding "fundamental values," as Newsom puts it. However, these values appear to encompass forsaking public safety, defending criminals, and rallying behind violent protesters. Harris has even claimed, contrary to all evidence, that those LA protests were "overwhelmingly peaceful." Even though most participants were merely exercising their rights during the demonstrations, the event provided cover for the keffiyeh-wearing, Mexican-flag-waving mob. In the bizarre world of the current Democratic Party, the police and National Guard are to blame for the unrest, rather than the politically driven militants.
To offer some contrast, senator John Fetterman and some newly elected Democratic mayors understand the importance of law enforcement as a pillar of democratic order. Fortunately, they realize that embracing violence, especially from those in the country illegally, is politically disastrous outside deep-blue strongholds. Yet, if present trends continue, their relative sanity will likely consign them to unsuccessful political careers within the Democratic Party.
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The Democratic Party's Reigning Queen of Upwards Failure
The uncontested queen of this upwards failure is Kamala Harris. The former vice president and potential 2024 presidential candidate lost to an unpopular Trump despite outspending him substantially and receiving favorable coverage from a mostly progressive, millennial-dominated media. Unsurprisingly, California seems poised to anoint her as their next governor, despite her repeated inability to win in competitive elections.
AOC, on the other hand, hasn't tasted defeat yet. Like Harris, she also enjoys extremely favorable coverage from progressive media. The fact that her NYC district suffers from high crime while she advocates defunding the police—a strategy now discredited and seen as a boon to the criminal class—might trouble her constituents, but apparently not her.
AOC's much-hyped Green New Deal didn’t get past the starting line, which may turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Once her extreme positions on Net Zero, Israel, and raising taxes become more widely known, it's unlikely there will be a groundswell of support beyond the left. With no record in government to defend, AOC's campaign would likely fall apart if she were to run—just like those of her Democratic colleagues.
No one personifies the Democrats' governance failures more than Gavin Newsom. As mayor of San Francisco, he turned the city into a haven for homeless criminals and lunatics during his seven-year tenure. He then moved on to torment the entire state as governor. The slick California governor has burdened the state with high levels of debt, a distorted housing market, and ever-rising homelessness and crime rates.
If California's Democratic elite can bungle America's most favored state, imagine the wonders they can work for the rest of the country. California, despite being home to the most billionaires, has the highest poverty rate, with nearly one in five Californians living below the poverty line. Even “patient” California voters want Newsom to focus more on the state's myriad crises rather than preening on the national stage.
Additional Insights
- Kamala Harris identified key economic challenges in her vice-presidential run, including economic inequality, youth unemployment, and climate change[1]. However, critics argue she lacked a clear vision for addressing these issues and failed to articulate a compelling case beyond promoting a more progressive agenda[1][5].
- Pete Buttigieg's campaign in the 2020 presidential race showcased his communication skills and ability to connect with voters, especially young people[2]. However, he struggled to gain traction with African-American voters, ultimately losing a key factor that helped former President Obama secure his victories[2]. A major factor behind Buttigieg's struggles among Black voters was his lack of experience appealing to working-class communities[2].
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez raised concerns over Amazon's second headquarters being built in Queens and opposition to tax incentives for the tech giant[3]. She has also advocated far-left policy positions, such as Green New Deal infrastructure investments and providing tuition-free college for all[3]. Critics argue these positions are too extreme to appeal to voters in key battleground states and could hurt the Democratic Party's electoral prospects[4].
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In the context of the Democratic Party's presidential race for 2028, the candidates embodying cancel culture, such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, are more popular among fellow Democrats but struggle to appeal beyond party lines, unlike more moderate candidates like Josh Shapiro. When it comes to culture, the Democratic Party seems to champion values that prioritize public safety less and defend criminal activities and violent protesters more, as evidenced by their responses to the LA riots and Kamala Harris's claims about their peaceful nature.
The Democratic Party's adherence to these controversial values extends to their approach to politics and general-news issues, such as their support for the Green New Deal, defunding the police, and higher taxes, which critics argue are too extreme to appeal to voters in key battleground states. This ideological leaning could potentially harm the Democratic Party's electoral prospects, especially when compared to more centrist positions championed by candidates like Pete Buttigieg.
