The Rise and Eclipse of the Progressive Left

The Emergence of a New Left

The 2020 Democratic presidential race was shaped by years of grassroots activism, protests, and relentless opposition to the Trump presidency. Protests became an enduring feature of the Trump era, galvanizing a new generation of political activists and organizers.

Movements like Black Lives Matter (BLM), the Sunrise Movement, and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) emerged as forces, influencing the political terrain and establishing a rising new Left.

Bernie Sanders' Influence and Progressive Policy

The success of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders' campaigns reflected the resonance of progressive politics within the Democratic Party base. Sanders' calls for Medicare for All, student debt cancellation, and a Green New Deal became the gold standard for progressive policy, setting the terms of debate for the entire field.

The Shift to the Right

The Democrats won in 2020 with 81 million votes, the most in U.S. history. However, the 2024 race could not have been more different. Harris emerged as the party's nominee as a moderate, distancing herself from the progressive policies that had defined the platform four years earlier.

The Impact of Backlash and Democratic Withdrawal

Undoubtedly, some of this political retreat was in reaction to the right-wing backlash against so-called woke politics. Attacks on critical race theory, affirmative action, and diversity initiatives reached a fever pitch, with Trump leading the charge.

But the backlash did not only come from the Right. Some Democrats also denounced the progressive influence in the party, with representatives like Karen Bass and Jim Clyburn blaming BLM activists for the conservative backlash.

The Isolation of the Left

In the 2020 election, as Democrats lost seats in the House, Representative Abigail Spanberger advocated against using the terms "socialist" or "socialism." Others, like former Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, called on "mainstream Democrats" to "stand up and fight back" against the intolerant Left.

Democrats not only distanced themselves from the Left's rhetoric but also tried to scrub away their reputation as big government spenders.

Progressive Contributions to the 2020 Victory

Despite complaints from centrist Democrats, it is undeniable that progressive groups played an affirmative role in the party's 2020 victory. Voter registration surged during BLM protests, and progressive groups blanket the swing states to turn anger and protest into votes.

BLM played a crucial role in mobilizing Black voters and organizing a get-out-the-vote campaign. The Movement for Black Lives also initiated the "The People's Charter" as a list of demands to shape the post-election environment.

The Failure to Hold Biden Accountable

After Biden's presidency, progressives largely failed to mobilize to demand more. They may have viewed themselves as potential collaborators with the administration rather than as adversarial opponents, which complicated their ability to mobilize.

Harris' disastrous presidential bid exemplified the consequences of failing to hold Democrats accountable. Her stances on police brutality, immigration, and the military were out of touch with the Left's demands.

The Fragmentation of the Left

Beyond pressuring the Democratic administration holding power, the past four years saw the general retreat of big forces on the organized Left and among progressive organizations.

No mass organizations emerged out of the most significant movement against racism and inequality in the United States in two generations. Today, the Left feels small, marginalized, fractured, and disorganized.

The Questions Persisting

The questions concerning the relationship between progressives, the Left, and the Democratic Party are still here, even as Trump has improbably regained the White House.

How can we build an effective movement if we don't address the questions concerning democracy and political accountability within it? And how do we guard against our activism becoming the latest directives demanding we drop everything for the 2026 midterm elections, and then again in 2028?

Given the scale of the crisis in the lives of ordinary people, the Left's lack of political independence is politically unsustainable.