Democrats say we believe in democracy, but too often, we don’t practice it. Instead of trusting the voters, party leaders agonize endlessly about what every political ripple might mean for a swing voter in middle America, mistaking caution for strategy. Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee in the New York mayoral race, may not be the answer to the Democratic Party’s problems, but he is an answer. His campaign shows how collective organizing, grassroots support and values-based change can revive our democracy.
Lucas Guan ’27 argued in a recent opinion that Mamdani is the wrong choice for Democrats and that embracing his socialist messaging will deliver Democratic losses across the country. Guan holds that we must make sacrifices in order to achieve victory and avoid dissolving into “internal bickering.” At times, he argues, “abandoning some of our values” may be necessary to meet voters where they are and achieve electoral success across the country.
While I agree with Guan’s assessment that we need to meet voters where they are and must not fall into the trap of partisan infighting, his argument perpetuates the same poor decisions that have been made time and again by party elites. National electoral success doesn’t come from blanket policy moderation. It comes from political skill and truly listening to voters.
Democratic Party leaders have been making political calculations from a place of fear for too long. They have been too hesitant, worrying that policies will be perceived as inflammatory by voters rather than actually listening to what the voters want. The overly cautious attitude that has gripped the party’s power brokers has likely driven declining favorability across many demographics. Yet it is these same leaders who have discretion over the party’s candidate selection and messaging decisions.
The solution to the Democrats’ woes isn’t running Mamdani-style candidates everywhere, but is instead letting these voices thrive where the political environment is favorable. We must not squash popular voices of the Democratic Party that are bringing disaffected voters back into the fold in the name of moderation. Progressive champions need room in the Democratic coalition. Denigrating these politicians and the voters who support them weaken the party.
In an age where voters feel increasingly disengaged and apathetic about politics, movements where collective action sit at the forefront is the way to counteract this. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee could only hope to recruit candidates that instill as much hope and motivation to organize as Mamdani has.
Pouring endless amounts of money into bland candidates that appear good on paper will not save us from our bleak political landscape. Instead, success lies in pushing for candidates that light a fire in us all to go out and have meaningful conversations with friends and family. What will bring us forward is grassroots action.
Politics can be something that brings us all together, and when candidates harness this messaging, they can turn elections into so much more than just fighting for votes. They can turn them into movements where people come together to fight for more.
College students have historically shown the power that movements of passionate and dedicated individuals can wield. At Brown, over 70% of incoming students strongly oppose the Trump administration. While this ideological sentiment expresses strong opposition to the administration, students may feel lost when finding ways to make their voices heard.
If college liberals are dissatisfied with our leadership, we can make the change. A community-focused way of campaigning is emerging, where candidates are not just asking for votes but tangibly improving voters’ lives. Movement politicians like Kat Abughazaleh or Graham Platner are pushing us to rethink what politics could mean. They are challenging us to envision a new Democratic Party that is focused on tangible results rather than empty rhetoric. This change won’t come from the top — it will come from us.
Guan’s column provides kernels of truth that we should follow when engaging politically, but it fundamentally reinforces an idea that has led to a weaker Democratic Party. We can’t run scared. We need to run joyfully in solidarity with millions of other Democrats feeling the power of movement politics behind them. We must allow voices of the voters to ring loud and allow progressives to celebrate successes without wringing our hands in consternation about what it will mean for the rest of the country. We can’t let fear dictate our decisions; the future is ours to shape.
Tommy Leggat-Barr ’28 can be reached at thomas_leggat-barr@brown.edu. Please send responses to this column to letters@browndailyherald.com and other opinions to opinions@browndailyherald.com.
