Dem
47
GOP
53
Most leaders in the Democratic Party are old and started their careers decades ago when politics was more civil and presidents tried to obey the law most of the time. Ronald Reagan and former House Speaker Tip O'Neill didn't agree on many policy issues but could have a friendly drink together after work. Many young Democrats completely reject the idea of working with the Republicans. Their model is Lord Randolph Churchill's famous remark: "The duty of the opposition is to oppose." They want Senate Democrats to use every tool at their disposal, including filibustering every bill and resolution, placing holds on every motion to proceed, and generally bringing the Senate to a grinding halt. Young Democrats fault their elders for not getting it that politics is now a blood sport fought to the death.
This view is now manifesting itself with young Democrats challenging older established ones in primaries, the way Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) did to Joe Crowley in 2018. They want to turn the 2026 Democratic primaries into a referendum on age and complacency.
For example, Jake Rakov—a former staffer to Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), a 70-year old 15-term incumbent from Sherman Oaks (naturally)—is challenging his old boss in a primary in his D+17 district. Progressive YouTuber Kat Abughazaleh (26) is challenging Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL). Schakowsky is 80 and has been in the House for 26 years. Saikat Chakrabarti, AOC's 39-year-old former chief of staff, is challenging Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), saying: "We are living in a totally different America than the one she knew when she entered politics 45 years ago." George Hornedo, a 34-year-old TikToker, is primarying 8-term Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN).
These are just a few of the younger Democrats who regard incumbents as scared and feeble. If Republicans are going to break laws and go to the mat on everything, these Democrats see the way to fight back is to use every bit of parliamentary and extra-parliamentary power they have got to throw sand in the gears and stop the machine. Compared to them, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is a Blue Dog.
Rebecca Katz, a long-time Democratic consultant, said she expects more challenges and retirements in the months ahead. The base is angry and wants a fight. That anger was visible when an estimated 5 million people showed up at Hands Off! protests and members of the House have been besieged at town halls recently. Many of them are demanding that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) step aside for a younger leader with more fight in him, like Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) or Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ).
Generational change is not limited to the House. Mallory McMorrow (38) is running for the open Senate seat in Michigan currently occupied by the retiring Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), who is 66. In New Hampshire, Rep. Chris Pappas, who is 44, is running for the seat of retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), who is 78.
The battles aren't always left vs. moderate or Democrat vs. Republican. They are between people who think the system can be reformed and those who think it has to be rebuilt from scratch. It is going to be an interesting year or two. (V)