By Nitya Chakraborty
After the resounding victory of the progressive bloc of the Democratic Party in the November 3 U.S. midterm elections, the centrist dominated Democratic Party establishment has initiated talks with the democratic socialist group mainly led by the senator Bernie Sanders to draw up a joint strategy to fight the beleaguered Republicans led by President Donald Trump in the newly elected Congress which begins its session from January 3, 2027.
Latest results indicate that the progressive bloc has got now 106 seats out of the total Democratic Party seats of 255 in the 435 member house. In the senate, the Democrats have already got 55 seats as against 44 by Republicans. The result of one senate seat is yet to come. That way, the Democrats will be controlling comfortably both houses when the new session begins.
The immediate task is to elect the Speaker as also the majority leader of both the house of representatives and the senate. The departmental house committees also will be elected these committees have lot of powers. Most of the positions will go to the Democrats on the basis of the November 3 midterm results. The earlier close positioning of both parties in both houses, is gone as the difference between the Democrats and the Republicans is too wide now.
The progressive bloc is too excited after the election results. Many of the younger representatives are saying that the blue wave that has swept away many traditional red belts of the Republicans, is due to the consistent work done by the left wing of the Democratic Party during the poll campaign in favour of the demands for medicare for all and higher minimum wage. This campaign, they say, helped in persuading a lot of working class who voted for the Republicans in 2024 presidential elections. So they demand that the Democratic leadership must fulfil the promises on the basis of which the Democrats won.
Right now, the Democratic National Committee chairman is Ken Martin. He was elected in February 2025 and is having a four year term. So he should be in his position during the November 2028 Presidential elections. Martin is a centrist. He is in talks with Bernie sanders to ensure that the energized progressive bloc does not openly challenge the national leadership and discuss their demands with the central leadership in a cordial manner. The national leadership has given enough indication that they will consider the demands of the progressive bloc and try to incorporate to the extent possible.
Indications suggest that Sanders also wants that there should be total unity in the Democratic Party in the next two years before the November 2028 Presidential elections. The insurgents of the Socialite group should not do anything which will help the Republicans during the crucial two years. The Democrats will have to continue the present pace and win decisively in November 2028 Presidential elections, Bernie Sanders feels. Former Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Joe Biden have been consulted by Ken Martin. Both Obama and Clinton are in dialogue with Sanders for projecting a united face in the Congress.
Former President Joe Biden is confined to home due to his treatment. He has stage four prostate cancer. He is now busy with the promotion of his new memoir to be released on November 17. Titled “Promise me America”, this is his second memoir. Earlier in 2017, he wrote his first memoir “Promise Me Dad”. Biden has got a US$10 million advance for this 2026 book
Pramila Jayapal, the chairperson of Progressive Caucus within the Democratic Party said the caucus plans to take members on the road to promote Medicare for All, including in red states such as South Carolina and Florida. She also pointed to Alabama, where Shomari Figures, a representative who beat a Republican gerrymander to win reelection, signed onto the bill six to eight months ago.
When Republicans tested attacks against him in his Trump-leaning district, she said, the Medicare for All attack tested so badly that they never ran it. “Healthcare has collapsed across the country,” Jayapal said, “and I think the cruelty of that also gives us this amazing opportunity to really, once and for all, reform this system.”
Interestingly, the group known as Rightwing within the Democratic Party is small. They are not vocal. They act through centrists. The centrist thinktank Third Way is backed by Bill Clinton. Their estimate that centrists number in new House will cross 150- much more than 106 of the progressive bloc’. But the advantage of the progressive bloc is that they are vocal and they talk straight on the issue like the ending of war in Iran. The centrists have problems on the Israel issue.
While the DNC leadership is talking of caution and joint approach of the Democratic Party members in the Congress sessions, a young leader of progressive caucus said early this week the takeaway from voters this midterm cycle is not to stay cautious, but rather to spark some action. He said the caucus would bring bills on wages, corruption, housing costs, credit card interest rates and child care to the floor, and was not worried about vetoes. “The best way to not get something into law is to never pass it,” he said.
Amidst all the conflicting views in the Democratic Party after the midterm polls, one thing is clear. The Democratic Party agenda will be more radicalized in favour of the workers interests. The national leadership has to recognize the political mood in the country and the role of the left wingers, the DSA in bringing about that change. Democratic Party agenda will certainly turn more left in the coming congress session, but its extent will depend on the nature of pushback by the progressive bloc. (IPA Service)
