Where The Party At
WelcomeFest DC on July 30 - For The People In The Middle
The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee started her first speech by invoking themes of patriotism before pivoting to talking about what she learned with Joe Biden:
He brought together Republicans and Democrats and passed historic legislation … I would sit with Joe in the Oval Office as he would bring members of both sides of the aisle, and talk. And listen. And help them see what they may have in common, and how we can actually work towards solutions.
The path to President Kamala Harris runs through the political center. And on Tuesday July 30, we will be with hundreds of can-do centrists in DC for the inaugural WelcomeFest.
Register here to join us from 1pm-6pm at The Schuyler. It’s For The People in the Middle.
At this time next week, we will just be starting happy hour after an afternoon of conversations with those who taught us the most over the last four years: Representatives
and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Never Trump focus group legend , the pied piper of controversial common sense , the Very Serious , youth vote boss , dynamic candidates like John Avlon & Janelle Stelson, and many more.We’ll have freshman orientation style tabling so you can find more ways to get plugged into the community with sponsors like partisan centrist leaders at Third Way, congressional caucuses NewDems and Blue Dogs, the next-gen leaders at Future Caucus and NewDEAL Leaders, the modern netroots at New Liberals, and more.
We’ll be talking about some big topics - illuminating the path to the White House, demystifying electoral reality, correcting The Groups on key constituencies, and how Democrats can win tough races:
For The People in the Middle: The Path to President Kamala Harris Runs through the Political Center
Hopium Detox: Democrats Lost in 2022 and are Losing Now
When Progressives Lie: Misrepresenting Views of Black, Hispanic, and Young voters
Democrats Should Try Harder to Win: Listen to the Winners
2020 vs. 2024
When we started Welcome during the 2020 presidential primary, the media narrative was of a Democratic Party rapidly moving to the left. We felt the damaging disconnect between Twitter Democrats and real-life Democrats. And saw that it would harm not only Democrats but our democracy.
We teamed up to correct it, yearning for the type of connection that could inform us, call us to action, and provide a sense of community.
One short presidential primary later, that community is coming together for WelcomeFest.
We’ve learned the best way to protect democracy is to practice it. To believe in (political) science, and apply it practitioners who have proven they can win the middle. That polarization is overrated, and volatility is underrated. That “The Depolarizers” who capture that volatility show us how to regain ground in the long run.
Applying those lessons together is essential.
Reality Show
The data is clear that Democrats are currently losing races for the White House and Senate. Political scientists show that “Harris likely to be portrayed and seen as too liberal.”
But there are three reasons to know this can change, which we’ll explore over the next week:
Harris’s true self is moderate, and her public campaign discomfort derived from being pressured left
The 2020 primary dynamic squeezed her, while the 2024 primary-free dynamic frees Harris to be herself - and focus on the middle
Biden was moved left over the past four years, and those dynamics must shift for Harris to win
For more context:
five years ago this week, The New York Times wrote a pre-mortem just months into her last presidential primary campaign that captures the upside of Harris: she is by nature a moderate made uncomfortable during the 2020 progressive interest group race to the left.
from last week,
on The case for Kamala Harris, from a former haterfrom yesterday,
on how This Is the Best Possible Way for Kamala Harris to Launch a Run for President
And do something about it
Third Way’s endorsement of Harris noted she carries the “agenda on immigration, crime, and the economy, we are confident she can mobilize the coalition of base Democrats and swing voters we need to win.”
The party is at a good place these days: the base wants to win, and is realistic about how. Centrists know how to swing voters. It’s time to mobilize.
So join us in DC on Tuesday, July 30.
Support the Win The Middle slate.
And share this with others who yearn for an informed community by taking action.
With much gratitude, see you soon - Lauren & Liam
Business casual to casual - but no pressure! Wear what you're comfortable wearing
Got my ticket - see you there!