Democrats just won what could be their largest House majority in decades but some battle-tested centrists are already warning their party not to lose it in 2028.

Those now-emboldened Democrats, who have long competed in battleground districts, are now urging party leaders to stick to this fall’s core promises on affordability — or risk a backlash in the next election.

Privately and publicly, these Democrats are urging leaders to focus on kitchen-table issues and avoid culture-war fights they believe could divide the party and invite Republican attacks, according to nearly a dozen lawmakers and aides.

For many, that means steering clear of transgender issues and policing reform bills they fear Republicans would weaponize. They also want to avoid left-wing priorities such as ending US support for Israel or abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Several Democrats also called for restraint in the party’s oversight agenda, warning that talk of impeaching President Donald Trump or his Cabinet should not overshadow that focus.

  • Mycatiskai@lemmy.ca
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    4 days ago

    They aren’t worried about their battleground state fight against a Republican, they are worried about their primary against a left progressive.

    “Don’t do too much with these progressives or it will show my base what could be done with more progressives. That slow incremental changes is what makes us money from rich people not sweeping change for the masses.” Says the centrist behind closed doors.

  • Snowclone@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    Gotta remember they’re still neo liberal conservatives who have to maintain corporate interests.

  • Taco2112@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    Want to know why Democrats have such grabage approval ratings from their own voters, shit like this. Oh and fuck Israel and ICE.

    • we is doomed!@lemmy.world
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      5 days ago

      they’re leaning back, tweaking their nipples, confident you’re not going to vote 3rd party and will throw them a hate vote.

      • Taco2112@lemmy.world
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        5 days ago

        Jokes on them then, I’m not a Democrat and never will because politics isn’t a team sport. I’ll vote for them if they have good candidates but I happily didn’t vote D for my senator this year because I think he is corporate Dem who will follow Chuck Schumer lockstep and I won’t support that.

    • ButtermilkBiscuit@feddit.nl
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      5 days ago

      Look how many centrists won in the last election lol. We should definitely listen to these fuckwits and not just primary them from the left. /s

  • Blibly@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    “Battle tested” lol centrists are doughboys hiding in the trench making no gains whatsoever. Time for the progressive blitz

  • Hildegard (she/her)@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    5 days ago

    Not focusing on transgender issues means restoring the status quo. Trans people were able to change gender markers on their ID cards, and play in school sports, and not be prosecuted for using public restrooms before the current trans panic.

    Restore the rights we already had. Anything less is a betrayal, and a choice to join the fascists. Refusing to restore our rights is the opposite of steering clear the issue.

    • Auli@lemmy.ca
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      5 days ago

      I mean is that really a big issue people care about vs how expensive everything is.

      • Feathercrown@lemmy.world
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        4 days ago

        I’m sure trans people care about being able to use bathrooms, join recreational group activities, and have correct government documentation. And we should stand with them, loud and steadfast, until we’ve made sure they can do that.

        • LastYearsIrritant@sopuli.xyz
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          4 days ago

          And even if it wasn’t, the restrictions put on trans people also affect cis people, usually more frequently than trans people.

          There are absolutely reasons that cis people need HRT. There are absolutely times where cis people get accused of being trans and get kicked out of places that they are legally allowed to be. There are absolutely times where cis people are going to be forced to prove they are cis to be allowed in activities like sports.

          It’s impossible to create rules that only inconvenience trans people.

  • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    6 days ago

    “We are going to try to govern, progressives are going to try to make a point,” one Democratic aide working for a centrist member told CNN. “This is not the time to show how progressive we can be. People need to see us fighting.”

    These fucking ghouls…

    • obvs@lemmy.world
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      6 days ago

      I always heard leftist people saying that this is what the Democrats would do.

      Shocked the shit out of me when I got to observe them doing it.

      These people have no business being involved in government at any level. If you see a group trying to commit a Holocaust and you’re concerned that people might perceive you as too progressive for supporting transgender people, you have clearly decided to be part of the problem.

    • Zaktor@sopuli.xyz
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      6 days ago

      When in their lives have centrists ever been known for fighting. Sorry, it occurs to me this will need a specifier, fighting the right.

  • Rhaedas@fedia.io
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    6 days ago

    “Battled-tested”? I mean just say experienced, don’t give them more than they’ve earned. Unless you mean battles where they’re cowering in the foxholes and no advancements were made.