Should Democrats stick to rhetoric and positions that are popular in swing states such as Georgia and Wisconsin? Ultimately, I think the answer is “no,” but the question is worth exploring.
Many in the party blamed the Democrats’ weaker-than-expected results in the 2020 elections on left-wing activists and politicians touting controversial ideas, most notably the slogan “defund the police.” The Democrats’ struggles in New Jersey and Virginia this month led more centrist figures in the party to redouble some of those criticisms. This isn’t the most straightforward argument, considering that President Biden, Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy aren’t known as leading figures of the progressive left.
