Win the Middle, Save Democracy.

By Democrats, for Democrats, this is a resource for those who want to see our party win a sustainable governing majority.

Democrats did better than expected in the midterms, but Donald Trump’s radicalized Republican Party still won the national vote share by three points and the country remains sharply divided. Even worse, Democrats are losing support among key constituencies, including Hispanic and working class voters. In order to break the stalemate, reverse these trends, and secure a durable governing majority, we must take a new approach.

It’s a scary political world out there. Some of the rules are unfair. Some people who are trying to help are actually hurting. Some of our favorite candidates aren’t worth spending our time and money on. But once we know the stakes and accept our reality, we can work together to win — and be the team people want to join.


1. Winning Under Today’s Rules

Where do American voters (and democracy) stand in 2023?

Before we dive into anything else, it’s important to agree on a set of facts about American democracy and the American electorate as it currently stands. When you look at these facts in totality, they start to paint a picture of our political reality — and the necessary path forward.

Part 1: Winning Under Today's Rules →


2. (Far) Left Out

How has the influence of today’s ascendant far-left hurt Democrats’ ability to win a sustainable majority?

Not only has today’s far-left activist faction made a big business out of rejecting political reality, but it has subsumed the Democratic Party, dominating its fundraising ecosystem, issue spaces, and political dialogue. In some cases, that’s fine — they can be left to advocate for pie-in-the-sky hashtags and are free to ignore swing districts without drawing unnecessary conflict. But, as the old saying goes, your liberty to swing your fist ends just where my nose begins. Once the far-left threatens the party’s ability to sustain a durable governing majority, intervention is warranted.

Part 2: (Far) Left Out →


3. The Path Forward

What must be done for Democrats to win the middle?

Unlike in most organizations, there is no centralized decision-making apparatus in the Democratic Party — no C.E.O. or Board of Directors to define priorities, make tradeoffs, and allocate resources. This means “The Democrats” are simply whoever within the ecosystem steps up and does the work of organizing and investing. The far-left has leveraged this reality to achieve an outsized impact within the party and transform its brand. It’s time for moderates to organize and do the same in the middle.

Part 3: The Path Forward →


4. Case Studies & Fact Sheets

What wins (and loses) the middle in real life?

Adam Frisch: How to Put a “Safe R” Seat Into Play

·
August 29, 2023
Adam Frisch: How to Put a “Safe R” Seat Into Play

A former independent ran as a big-tent Democrat and came within just 546 votes of defeating Lauren Boebert in 2022 — all without a prayer from the pundits or a dime from the national party committees.

Kara Eastman: The Far-Left Loses a Biden Seat

·
August 29, 2023
Kara Eastman: The Far-Left Loses a Biden Seat

The only Justice Democrats-backed candidate to run in a swing district ran behind Joe Biden by double digits in 2020.

NY-03: The Primary Problem That Sent George Santos to D.C.

·
August 29, 2023
NY-03: The Primary Problem That Sent George Santos to D.C.

How did Long Island voters go from backing Biden to Santos? Special interests elevated an establishment progressive over a red-to-blue local legislator in low-turnout closed Democratic primary.

The Far-Left Fifth

·
August 29, 2023
The Far-Left Fifth

Mayoral races in deep-blue Philadelphia, Chicago, and New York City tell the same story as nonpartisan research: just 1 in 5 Democratic voters are in the Bernie-AOC wing of the party.

Biden’s Pivot to the Center Aligns with Independent Voters

·
August 29, 2023
Biden’s Pivot to the Center Aligns with Independent Voters

While Biden’s shift to the middle on climate, immigration, and crime has drawn criticism from the left, it aligns with the independent voters who broke decisively for him in 2020 and will choose whether he keeps his job in 2024.

Twitter Democrats vs. IRL Democrats

·
August 20, 2023
Twitter Democrats vs. IRL Democrats

Democrats who tweet about politics are whiter, wealthier, more liberal, and less patriotic than those who don’t.

Adam Frisch’s Reverse Coattails

·
August 29, 2023
Adam Frisch’s Reverse Coattails

It’s no coincidence that Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) ran ahead of Joe Biden by the widest margin in the Congressional district where another Democrat overperformed dramatically down ballot.


Subscribe to Welcome Stack for more on how to win the middle and save our democracy