Having worked as a field organizer for U.S. Rep. Jared Golden (D-M.E. 2), one of the most conservative Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives, I often receive texts that criticize his recent votes and statements, asking how he could possibly be legislating in this manner. While many of his votes I don’t agree with, and some I find completely repugnant, I understand why he needs to make these decisions to survive in a district that voted for President Trump by nearly 10 points. After all, politics is not about creating the most morally righteous coalitions that hemorrhage voters and dwindle in significance. It’s about building and maintaining majorities that can lead to systemic and impactful change.
Recently, the Democratic Party has been looking for an answer to recover its recent losses among key demographics. Democrats on the left argue that embracing progressive policies like Medicare for All and paid family and medical leave will solve all of our electoral problems across the country. On the other hand, centrist Democrats argue that shifting focus away from trans issues and moving to the right on immigration is the way to “win the middle” and end all of our electoral woes.
In the end, both of these takes have kernels of truth, but neither on its own should be the prescription. For the Democratic Party to broaden its appeal, it must not be a monolith, but rather a big tent where differing ideologies are given space and respected. Members should coalesce under a spirit of ruthless pragmatism in order to achieve our most closely held common goals, like building a fairer economy and providing healthcare to our most vulnerable.
For many liberals, it is common to reflexively condemn Democratic members of Congress who cast votes and make statements that are contrary to certain policies on our agenda. While this may be a comfortable reaction, this behavior does not further the ideals that we hold so dear, nor does it help bolster the party’s brand. Achieving governing majorities to solve our most pressing issues requires big tents, not purity tests.
In recent years, Democratic politicians breaking with the party orthodoxy have dwindled at an alarming rate. This decrease in ideological diversity has led to the decline of Democratic seats in the House of Representatives and vote share in precincts across the country.
Such a culture, where the liberal base expects Democratic politicians to go in lockstep on every decision, has created a party that is fundamentally weaker and less competitive in many regions across the country. To build durable Democratic majorities we must cultivate and allow space for disagreement across the party and withhold our immediate castigation when members may break with the mainstream. Especially at a time when the Democratic Party’s approval rating is at a record low, we must make space for insurgent candidates to help bolster electoral outcomes in areas across the country currently disaffected by Democrats.
Rigid orthodoxy has grown even more shockingly on the right — Republicans who buck the party line or go against Trump are staring down the barrel at a litany of scathing tweets and likely a primary challenge. Rising with the cult of Trump, the Republican Party has lost its backbone and direction — it has simply become the power arm of one man’s policy agenda.
As Republicans follow Trump blindly into worse and worse policy decisions, it is clear that rampant consolidation of power and squashing of dissent has led to a party able to accomplish substantial policy goals. But while these most recent achievements have been sweeping, they could have dire consequences for the party in upcoming elections, due to the impact the policies will have on voter’s lives. The Democratic Party must not mimic these tendencies because it leads to poor policy decisions and sidelines long-term electoral success.
No single ideology will pull the Democratic Party back from the brink. Democratic politicians like U.S. Rep. Marie Glusencamp Perez (D-W.A. 3), Golden and former senator Joe Manchin argue that the path forward is moderating to regain the trust of rural white working-class voters. On the other hand, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y. 14) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-V.T.) contend that a relentless focus on working class issues will deliver Democratic wins across the country. Both of these approaches are true and effective but neither captures the entire picture.
All of these politicians do a fantastic job at representing their constituents even though their policies, methods and beliefs vary significantly. This is exactly what will bring the Democratic Party back: politicians that unabashedly represent their constituents regardless of how this interacts with larger party ideologies. Our country is vastly diverse, and Democrats must empower a multitude of voices to champion the party’s vision in ways that reflect the needs of their own constituents. When leaders from every corner of the nation bring that representation to Washington, our party can deliver on its promises and set forth a new vision.
We sit at a turning point where the 2026 midterms provide Democrats an opportunity to secure massive wins across the country in the face of an increasingly unpopular Republican agenda. To capitalize on this opportunity, we must set forth a new paradigm for how liberals engage with politics. Leading with understanding and grace and setting our most visceral instincts aside, we must embrace diverse viewpoints and provide space for them in our coalition. We can turn 2026 into not just a wave election, but the start of a new era.
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.
