13 centrist Democrats sign "Promise to America" - capitalism, fiscal discipline, strong borders and pride in US

[Nanjeanne]

Thirteen Democratic House members and candidates announced their support Thursday for a centrist initiative aimed at pushing back against the party’s tilt toward democratic socialism.

Suozzi and Adam Gray (California), who are the only Democrats to flip red districts in 2024 that President Donald Trump won that year, helped debut the group during the centrist gathering WelcomeFest this month.
The other signatories who announced their support Thursday include candidates and incumbents running in competitive races, including several districts that Trump won. Reps. Kristen McDonald Rivet (Michigan), Susie Lee (Nevada), Maggie Goodlander (New Hampshire), Josh Gottheimer (New Jersey), Laura Gillen (New York), Don Davis (North Carolina), Janelle Bynum (Oregon) and Vicente Gonzalez (Texas) are all supporters. Candidates Marlene Galán-Woods in Arizona, Jamie Ager and Paul Barringer in North Carolina and Bobby Pulido in Texas also signed on.

“We disagree with MAGA. We disagree with socialists,” Suozzi said. “We don’t want this extremism. We want mainstream.”

Link to archive.is (from Wash Post) https://archive.is/cFxXH#selection-601.0-617.118]

text of Promise To America https://www.thepromisetoamerica.com/]

Growth, Competition, and Broad Prosperity
We are capitalist, not socialist.

We believe in a growing, fair, and competitive economy that rewards hard work, innovation, entrepreneurship, and ownership. Full-time work should make it possible to own a home, raise a family, afford healthcare, and retire with dignity. Economic, permitting, and tax policy should expand opportunity and lower costs for workers, families, entrepreneurs, and those striving to join the middle class, not disproportionately favor those already at the top.

Safety, Security, and Human Dignity
We want safety, not lawlessness.

We believe Americans deserve secure borders, safe communities, honest government, and an orderly immigration system that protects the country, strengthens the economy, and treats people with dignity. We believe America remains indispensable to global stability, democratic values, international security, and strong alliances. In a dangerous and uncertain world, America must lead with strength, purpose, and partnership.

Fiscal Discipline
We are responsible, not reckless.

A generation has passed since our party balanced the budget. We will prioritize tackling the national debt honestly. We must pay our bills, and not leave our children in debt.

Government That Works
We believe government should solve problems, not create them.

Government matters, but it must work. Public institutions should be competent, accountable, easier to navigate, and capable of building, innovating, and delivering results people experience in everyday life. Government should make life easier.

Free Speech, Respect, AND Common Purpose
We are mainstream, not extreme.

We believe Americans can disagree without division. We stand for moderation, acceptance, respect, free expression, and democratic pluralism. We embrace a politics of persuasion over purity, contempt, and cultural division.

Confident Patriotism and National Renewal
We are proud, not ashamed of America.

We believe America’s story is one of extraordinary achievement and unfinished work. We honor America’s strengths and exceptional character while striving to build a freer, stronger, more prosperous, and more perfect union.

I guess all those who don't feel the same way are extreme and hate the US . . .

I'd say what I think of Suozzi (Problem Solver Caucus, censurer of Al Green etc) and Gray (Problem Solver Caucus, Blue Dog, joining w/Rs to open government etc.) . . . but I think it's against the rules of DU . . . cause, after all, they have a D next to their names.

[NewHendoLib]

1. My Dog....

[LuvLoogie]

2. We are definitetly going to need to take the house by more than 13.

Probably by at least 40. All new progressives. Democrats.. The Fettermans and Sinemas are open for business.

Yeah, It's a duck.

[Emile]

41. We definitely have a centrist problem.

[Boo1]

44. Without centrists

Democrats won't win the house or senate at all.

All progressives are doing is winning already blue districts.

[Emile]

45. We have a centrist problem!!

Democrats cannot steal Republican voters by moving to the center. Republicans vote for Republicans because they are Republican.

Democrats vote for Democrats because they are Democrats.

We need to stop chasing for the mythical republican cross over voters.

[CivicGrief]

55. Seriously. What a bunch of drivel from these

centrists. I hate when Democrats are afraid to be Democrats.

[Boo1]

67. You get to define what

A democrat "is"?

[Emile]

71. See post 36

Last edited Sat Jun 27, 2026, 06:33 AM - Edit history (1)

https://democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=21332049

[Skittles]

95. we know what it ISN'T

yes INDEED

[Cirsium]

117. Yes

Why, yes, we do, thank you very much. We get to define a Democrat as not a pale imitation of the Republicans. You are free to define Democrat as any Sinema, Manchin or Fetterman with a "D" after their name.

[Boo1]

122. Actually you don't

Get to say who is or isn't a Democrat based on your personal worldview.

[Cirsium]

124. But you do?

"My personal worldview???"

[Boo1]

142. When did I?

[CrispyQ]

138. Technically, we all get that say, in the privacy of the voting booth. 😁 -nt

[Boo1]

143. Indeed

And that mainstream Democrats are winning far more primaries, regardless of the attention given to them, than DSA aligned I think the voters are being clear.

[H2O Man]

130. If you re-read

the post you are responding to (#55), it clearly states that it is specific to a certain brand of Democrats. It in no way whatsoever even hints that the author is attempting to -- as your silly question says -- define who is or is not a Democrat. Your attempt to inject such nonsense into a serious conversation would be cause for failure in a junior high school debate.

[CrispyQ]

136. All I see is 'let's fix the economy & get along.'

I'm sick of this "both sides have an extremist problem," when one side clearly wants to take care of people & the other side wants take people's rights away.

Where's the call to return to science, the vow to stand for women's/civil/LBGQT rights, or the promise to restore separation of church & state, and so many other issues that have gone off the rails since the Republican party went fascist? Makes me wonder what they like about the Democratic Party, but a weak dem is better than any repub, so it is what it is.

[RandomNumbers]

137. Damn I am tired of people like me being attacked at this website

(not by you)

Just for thinking that we need to appeal to voters where they are, not where we wish they were.

Some things just won't play in districts that aren't bright blue. Where they will play - go for it! But stop kicking people in Nebraska or other purple districts who are trying to help win a D majority in Congress.

[betsuni]

144. There's an unshakeable belief that the Democratic Party is the main obstacle to political revolution

and must be taken over and transformed, that the majority of Americans are socialists (they just don't know it yet) and even in deep red districts will vote for revolution candidates (if only the Democratic establishment weren't TERRIFIED of them and rig elections and hate them and stop at nothing to thwart them).

For example, America's Next Top Revolution Leader agreed that Democrats rig elections and are a threat to democracy. :

Interviewer: "There hasn't been a fair primary for the Democrats since 2008. Are they not also a threat to democracy?"
Leader: "Yes, I'm not going to argue with those points."

It's a narcissistic revenge fantasy gone too far. But that's trendy these days. Meanwhile, Democrats are working all the time to make people's lives better.

[GPV]

107. Not to mention centrists are terrible negotiators. They only ask

for the bare minimum and then let the Republicans shred that even further.

[PatSeg]

108. I agree

Meanwhile, "centrists" in this context actually means "conservatives" without the MAGA extremes.

There was a time when such an approach could and sometimes did work, but not today. The right-wing media and politicians have turned the word "Democrat" into some kind of demon and most republicans aren't going to crossover.

I suppose there are a handful who will change their political affiliation to "Independent" and then hold their nose and vote Democratic, but I'm inclined to think many just won't vote. The ones who think all politicians are crooks, so why bother.

[Bettie]

58. And "Centrists" are just

trying to be "Republican lite".

It never works, but they do manage to gum up the works enough to keep any change from happening so that we are defeated in the next election. They are great for corporations, not so much for non-wealthy humans.

[Boo1]

69. Bullshit

You should stop comparing Democrats to Republicans.

[Cirsium]

118. Did you read it?

Did you read the "Promise To America?"

[Boo1]

123. Yes

And I agree with it fully.

[Cirsium]

126. OK

That's fine. I am not surprised that you "agree with it fully." It is very close to traditional Republican position statements. Looking back at previous Republican platforms (pre-MAGA) they are somewhat to the left from that "Promise To America" thing.

There is a deception involved here. Most of it is motherhood and apple pie. Who could disagree? But that is just camouflage for the real agenda, which is to discredit and undermine threats to the interests of the wealthy and powerful by using Red Scare rhetoric and fear-mongering.

Let's leave the lying and the red-baiting to the Republicans, shall we? They are so good at it.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

111. I strongly disagree

I have been working hard to turn Texas blue for a very long time. I am NOT a republican lite. Texas will elect James Talarico as a Senator this year with the support of mainstream democrats.

[H2O Man]

131. Recommended.

Very well said. I thank you!

[RandomNumbers]

132. Bullshit. So much for not trashing Democrats.

I'm not centrist in my ideals but I'd a helluva lot prefer centrist Ds to Republicans in districts where that's who can get elected.

I see NOTHING in the posted text that supports your statement implying the signatories to that are problematic to Democratic values. And even if they are - at DU - "support Democrats". Even if it isn't your exact shade of blue.

[demosincebirth]

109. Moderates is a better description

[betsuni]

139. "Centrist" is replacing "establishment" as the fashionable meaningless insult to label Democrats as not progressive,

same as Republicans. Meant to suppress support for Democrats.

Moderate doesn't sound alarming enough. Everybody knows the Democratic Party is a big tent diverse party so to beat Democrats one must turn strength into weakness.

[orthoclad]

5. "Contract on America"

[AStern]

16. Right?

[orthoclad]

19. This "promise" is an agreement to

throw the peasants a crust of bread, to keep the fiefdom in place.

[Blue Full Moon]

76. Exactly

[orthoclad]

77. Shades of Newt Gingrich

[mymomwasright]

4. I'm good with most of that stuff. What are they against?

Is it national healthcare, paid education, paid childcare, affordable housing, fair taxing the rich, equal rights, voting rights, and renewable energy? WTF is wrong with these people?

[orthoclad]

6. Y'know, all those things that "socialist" countries have.

[RandomNumbers]

129. Did they say they were against it? I looked up one signatory - Janelle Bynum

Last edited Sat Jun 27, 2026, 04:32 PM - Edit history (1)

She promotes most of those items you suggest they are against, according to the info at Ballotpedia.

She is in Oregon and trounced her most recent primary opponent. In 2024 she flipped an R Congressional district.

According to Wikipedia, she is assigned to the Financial Services Committee.

Maybe she just happens to think that the exploding national debt is a huge problem? OR, perhaps that her constituents believe that?

I suspect that this group is mostly a marketing tactic, but YES, more "centrist" than many on the farther-left will like.

But if they actually GET ELECTED and don't imply to potential D voters that they should sit home if their favorite candidate didn't get on the ballot - I'm 100% okay with it.

[Deuxcents]

7. It's bad enough that the R's are trying to divide us

Why are these mainstreamers drawing a line in the sand? We need change but not this kind of crap

[Quiet Em]

8. They seem to believe that everything happening today is fine and is mainstream and normal

There is zero mention on how to make lives better for the American people or how to stop the violations of our Contitution, our rules of law, our Civil rights, violations against humanity itself.

Wow.

[yardwork]

10. They don't believe everything is fine.

They're Democrats trying to get elected in red districts. They're not evil people. They deserve our support for trying to get elected in deep red districts.

In 2024 there were districts in NC where Republicans ran unopposed. You wouldn't believe what voters think in those rural areas. It's shocking how misinformed they are.

[Quiet Em]

11. They aren't offering anything

I don't understand why they would release this. They need to campaign on a lot more than what this memo offers if they want to win.

They don't have to talk about the NYC elections at all. Just talk about their districts and the needs of their districts.

[mvd]

100. I agree

I never agreed with the centrist part of our party (though when I was young didn’t really know any better), and they should just focus on local. There unfortunately are some districts where it is tough for progressives to win.

[Quiet Em]

13. Tom Suozzi is in NY

He primaried Kathy Hochul in '22 and he was pretty awful. NY Democratic voters did not buy what he was selling and he was handily defeated.

[Nanjeanne]

25. Then they should have some respect for the Dems who won in their districts. Why put out this

PROMISE as if only they know what’s good for the party? Why say anything other than we welcome the Democrats who won their primaries and will support the Democrats who will join us in Congress to make this country the best it can be.

What they have done is disrespectful to the Dem voters who chose their candidates in their primaries.

[yardwork]

49. What? I don't understand what you're saying.

This statement doesn't say anything about Democrats who won other primaries. Unless I'm missing something?

I live in NC. I'm familiar with Don Davis's district. It's a remote, isolated, rural area. Since the latest gerrymander it will be a struggle for the Democratic Party to hold onto this seat.

The people in NC District 1 aren't thinking about NYC primaries. NYC might as well be Mars for all the attention they pay it. They watch Fox News.

This statement is a direct response to the GOP's daily accusation that "socialists are trying to kill you." It is no way an effort to pick a fight or disrespect anybody, especially Democrats who just won primaries.

As I said before, I don't think this approach will work. I think people are hungry for a more radical approach. I think that being on the defensive and constantly responding to GOP lies is a losing approach.

But I feel compelled to defend these Democrats from some silly things that are being said about them.

Also, the primary in NC was months ago. The two Democrats who signed this statement are our party's official nominees. Last I heard it's against DU TOS to criticize nominees.

[Nanjeanne]

83. How about you just read the free link to the Wash Post or maybe even Suozzi's own statement

about “socialists”

Or Google more articles if you prefer.

You keep wanting to make this about them being in a red district. Fine. I still believe they could go out and campaign in their districts for what they believe is going to make their constituents lives better. There’s no need to put out this “Promise” and ask for others to sign this Promise - with all its very obvious implications about other Democrats who won on platforms they don’t like (and considering Suozzi lives in Family living at C Street I tend to think it’s not “just” saying what he thinks will help him get elected). Buy you can believe anything you want. That’s what makes a democracy - oops sorry, Suozzi.

[yardwork]

84. Are you suggesting that people should vote against them?

Are you asking voters to choose the Republican candidates in these races?

[Nanjeanne]

86. What are you talking about? Where did I say that? Voters get to choose. Im flummoxed.

If a candidate wins his or her primary the voters will make their choice. I may prefer a different candidate in a primary and I certainly would in each of their cases. But you are simply making shit up about me ever saying anything of the kind. Please stop.

[yardwork]

87. North Carolina's primaries are over.

Your thread here is bashing two Democratic candidates who will compete with Republicans in the GE.

I repeat. The NC primaries are over. The people in their districts chose these candidates.

Now you want "voters to choose?" The only choice is these or the Republicans.

[Nanjeanne]

88. My OP made no comment at all. I posted a Wash Post article and the actual Promise To America.

Now please if it is too difficult for you to simply stop making up invisible posts where I have somehow encouraged anyone to vote for a Republican. If simply posting what these Reps have said themselves causes you to believe that perhaps the issue is their own words. Not mine. Frankly, this is it. I am too tired to keep responding to nonsense you seem to want to ascribe to me. Ignore. Trash Can. Block. Alert. All those are options you can choose.

Enjoy the rest of your evening.

[yardwork]

89. These are your exact words in this thread:

Nanjeanne
36. They aren't trying to put forth any new ideas. They merely want to imply that these damn progressive
4:33 PM
Democrats aren’t sufficiently pro American to be members of the party. The implication is dear since they specify

Capitalism (they want to confuse the public by implying that things like universal healthcare and tuition free college would dismantle capitalism - shades the typical scare over anything that is for the betterment of citizens and not corporations)

Strong borders whatever that means (these progressives must be against border control which is insane. Being for a real immigration policy and a compassion for people is not the same as let’s open all borders and have a big party)

Confident Patriotism and National Renewal We are proud, not ashamed of America. Again an implication that what? Ds that want America to be better are not patriotic?

Every point in their “promise” is an implication that the other Ds who are in the party that they don’t like are somehow not interested in good government, being fiscally responsible, etc.

Are you telling the few progressive voters in the districts of these candidates not to support them in the GE? The elections could hinge on one vote in each district. Control of Congress is at stake. Democracy is at stake.

The time for this kind of criticism is before the primaries.

[Nanjeanne]

91. Read my lips. I NEVER SUGGESTED ANYTHING ABOUT HOW SOMEONE SHOULD VOTE.

The Promise in the words of these 13 per the Washington Post are necessary to couner the wins of the progressive “socialists” who won their primaries. The words you reposted I stand by. Nowhere did I tell anyone to vote for a Republican but you seem to want to believe that very badly. Im sorry to disappoint you and I truly don’t want to be rude but this is getting silly.

Don’t take it personally but I can’t keep responding to this without losing my own mind. So if you must respond again to me, dont take offense but I truly am done.

I honestly wish you a good nights sleep.

[yardwork]

92. Bashing Democratic candidates depresses the vote for them.

[Quiet Em]

94. All of us at DU want to take back the House and we want all of our Democratic nominees to win

The rules we all abide by means that includes our Democratic nominee Tom Suozzi, but Tom Suozzi doesn't have to abide by our rules.

Tom is the originator of this memo and Tom talked others into signing it. Tom released this memo after Tuesdays primaries. Tom is not happy with all of our Democratic nominees. Tom is not doing his best to ensure that all of our Democratic nominees get elected. Tom has a problem with some of them even though the primaries are over and the voters have made their decision. Here in NY we want to make sure our Democratic Governor is re-elected. We want to elect all of our House Democratic nominees. Our nominees are doing a great job and are winning. It would be great if Tom could be on the same page.

[msfiddlestix]

125. You seem to be either misunderstanding, misreading, or misinterpreting the poster's message.

Online discussions are filled with invisible landmines.
Too bad we can't just pick up a phone and discuss clarify through various points. I sort of grew up in N.C. but headed to California when I was 18 back in 68. Been here ever since.
That "Promise" left me feeling very disappointed and the endless cycle of bad messaging does not leave me optimistic.

[Cirsium]

120. Very red district here

Republican light has been tried for 20 years with zero success. We have a Democratic Socialist running this time and I believe we are going to finally flip the seat. Yes, people are ill-informed. Should they be smarter and better informed? Yes. But they will vote for a fighter, and a fighter has a better chance of informing them than a moderate does.

Obama did well here with a New Deal style campaign. Dean did well here. Sanders did well here. Gore, Secretary Clinton, Kerry, Harris - not so well.

[yardwork]

127. No arguments from me on that strategy.

But the primaries in NC are over and these are our Democratic candidates. Either they or Republicans will be elected in these districts.

The time for this kind of criticism is before the primaries and after the GE. And please write directly to the DNC and tell them exactly what you think they're doing wrong. I'm doing the same.

What I won't do is depress turnout for Democratic candidates in these or any districts. Once they are our official candidates we have to support them. The cycle begins again in mid-November.

[Cirsium]

128. I see

I agree.

[yardwork]

9. I'm not surprised to see the two from North Carolina.

This state is gerrymandered to death by the Republican state legislature. Their latest annihilstion of democracy happened with new district maps in 2025. The U.S. Supreme Court allowed it.

Don Davis is fighting a very tough reelection and Paul Barringer is fighting to be elected in what is now a red district.

I don't know that this strategy will work. People in these rural areas are brainwashed to believe that all Democrats are evil. I see what this group is doing but I'm not sure it will be enough.

I think a better strategy might be to lean into radical left promises. They're going to get called communists either way so they might as well run with it.

Frankly, I don't know that anything will get a Democrat elected in these gerrymandered districts.

[Matthew28]

12. I am mixed on this issue.

I want higher taxes on the rich, a stronger safetynet, but am ok with stronger borders and being ok with some level of capitlism.

[yardwork]

18. My goal is to get a Democratic majority in Congress.

The party that holds the majority in the Senate and House controls everything. They decide which bills get out of committee and to the floor for a vote. And the majority party controls the committees too. They have a majority vote in every committee.

As long as the Democrats are in the minority in Congress we have almost no power.

And with gerrymandering in so many states, it's increasingly difficult to get elected as a Democrat.

So yeah. If a Democrat has to say stuff to get elected, go for it. We're powerless until we hold the majority.

[CivicGrief]

59. But they are attacking other Democrats in a not so subtle way.

It is clear as day actually.

[yardwork]

60. How are they attacking other Democrats?

If you think this is in response to this week's primaries, I almost have to laugh.

The people living in isolated rural districts in NC aren't paying any attention to the NYC primaries. The Democratic candidates in these districts just want to get elected in the fall. They are responding to accusations from the GOP.

[Nanjeanne]

65. They said it was. Read the articles.

[CivicGrief]

90. We're all aware how civics works.

But reactionary comments in response to attacks by Republicans make them look like a bunch of dweebs. It’s a damn Chevrolet commercial for Christ’s sakes.

[QueerDuck]

110. "Yes, but who wants a majority if we must sacrifice being pure to get there?" ... or something 😂🤣🙄

"As long as the Democrats are in the minority in Congress we have almost no power."

And with that simple truth, you've hit the nail squarely on the head. But for many folks, pride and emotion leave no room for strategy and logic and compromise. An all or nothing philosophy will always result in "nothing".

[yardwork]

112. It seems laughable but here we are.

Gore was defeated by a coke head legacy moron in 2000 because Gore wasn't good enough for the purists.

Same again happened in 2016 and 2024.

This year should be a tidal wave of success for the Democratic Party but the billionaires are busy telling Democrats and Independents that our candidates aren't pure enough.

[Nanjeanne]

23. And are the progressives who have won their primaries against "strong" borders and against some level

of capitalism? Because they have done this bs to “counter” the progressive movement. What is the implication? Do these Democrats that won their primaries and that were supported by their constituents hate America? The implication is they must if the need to address that is in this promise.

[aocommunalpunch]

26. We aren't in a big tent, I guess.

Shrug.

[MustLoveBeagles]

33. I personally think the Dems

Should be a big tent party. Being divided amongst ourselves is not a winning strategy.

[NeoTrajan]

14. Which 'socialist' policies do they disagree with?

While those who declare themselves 'centrist' rail against 'socialism', they neglect to note that American appeals for socialist policies aren't collectivist farms or 5 year plans, or other historical aspects of the hard core communist 'socialism' of Russia, North Korea or China

A decent wage
Universal health care
Low cost access to college/university
Low cost child care
Clean Air and Clean Water
Voting Rights and Civil Rights

This is Democratic Socialism in America, not the establishment of gulags, not an affront to American values

[LearnedHand]

30. I suspect they're appeasing their corporate donors

[yellow dahlia]

53. Here is my first stab at a list.

Get off the highway!

If your house is on fire - grab the hose. Don't call the fire department.

You hear a burglar breaking into your house - no 911 for you.

[lapucelle]

114. They probably disagree with the DSA's call to defund the police, abolish prisons, and release all convicts.

Abolition Working Group

https://www.dsausa.org/working-groups/abolition-working-group/

[MustLoveBeagles]

34. Me too politics doesn't work

The Dems did that after 911. How'd that work out?

[hookaleft]

17. they all need to be primaried

[Renew Deal]

20. Many of them should be on the top of the primary list for 2028

[ColoringFool]

21. Yeah, Europe is so extreme. However, I agree that "Socialist" is a loser in the ....

US, so maybe "Progressive" could be the term.

[LearnedHand]

31. Socialism is the bogeyman pushed by the pukes

Why are these dems buying into that framework?

[CivicGrief]

57. And they still will be labeled as Socialists from the right.

They are actually helping build the narrative against Democrats by agreeing with Republicans. (Those darn Socialists are bad.)

[Emile]

22. If it's a choice between a genuine Republican,

and a Republican in Democratic clothing, the people will choose the genuine article, every time; that is, they will take a Republican before they will a phony Democrat.

Harry Truman

[Oneironaut]

24. What a completely pointless clump of words.

I love meaningless corpo-slop like this, because, I feel like it actually pushes people TOWARDS Democratic Socialism. Compare to this statement to one by Bernie Sanders, or Mamdani.

Also, "Full-time work should make it possible to own a home, raise a family, afford healthcare, and retire with dignity"

lol - Good joke! They're doing the Republican thing of pretending we are in an episode of Leave it to Beaver while most people under the age of 35 are barely scraping by, will never buy a house, will never retire (until they're dead), and, are one hospital visit away from bankruptcy.

[LearnedHand]

28. So corruption and neoliberalism are totally okay

Got it.

[Karma13612]

29. First of all

What is their definition of ‘mainstream’?

And secondly, it sounds like they are full of platitude phrases.

I still will vote for any of them OVER A REPUBLICAN. But, they are not talking about very specific policies, just generalizations.
The American people have been hearing platitudes for decades. From both sides. Now is the time for actual policy.

[Nanjeanne]

36. They aren't trying to put forth any new ideas. They merely want to imply that these damn progressive

Democrats aren’t sufficiently pro American to be members of the party. The implication is dear since they specify

Capitalism (they want to confuse the public by implying that things like universal healthcare and tuition free college would dismantle capitalism - shades the typical scare over anything that is for the betterment of citizens and not corporations)

Strong borders whatever that means (these progressives must be against border control which is insane. Being for a real immigration policy and a compassion for people is not the same as let’s open all borders and have a big party)

Confident Patriotism and National Renewal We are proud, not ashamed of America. Again an implication that what? Ds that want America to be better are not patriotic?

Every point in their “promise” is an implication that the other Ds who are in the party that they don’t like are somehow not interested in good government, being fiscally responsible, etc.

[Bettie]

63. What this usually means is

"we will vote against anything that might cause a corporation or one of our extremely wealthy donors to make even a penny less profit or pay even a penny more in taxes".

Oh and it's usually paired with "bootstraps" solutions for the poorest among us.

[Nanjeanne]

64. You got it.

[haele]

32. They're really Eisenhower Republicans. The GOP doesn't want them.

So they run as Democrats. Not necessarily bad, but definitely the old middle manager/union shop leader centerist types you'd find in the 50's and 60's. Comfortable enough they're not hungry for change, Centerist enough they're generally fair and accepting if not faced with unpleasantness or Radical pushback, and amenable enough that they will step in if they see someone in need - if it won't inconvenience them too much or if there's attaboys when the problem is "fixed".
Allies of Convenience.

[Nanjeanne]

37. Eisenhower doesn't want them either.

Eisenhower supported much higher taxes, he expanded SS, created the Dept of HEW, built that socialist thing we call highways, and spoke out against the military industrial complex.

[Ars Longa]

35. Not one F***ng word in the Promise to America about (for profit) HMO HealthCare.

[Bettie]

72. That would impact the bottom line of

the oligarchs.

Can't have that. Plus, people get to feeling like they matter if they are able to access health care without the danger of losing everything. Can't have that.

[RandomNumbers]

135. One could argue that this line does address that:

Economic, permitting, and tax policy should expand opportunity and lower costs for workers, families, entrepreneurs, and those striving to join the middle class, not disproportionately favor those already at the top.

Unless you think that the point is irrelevant to for-profit healthcare?

Note that the statements in the "Promise to America" - which I only just heard about when I read this post - are VERY general and conceptual, in language designed to appeal to a broad swath of voters.

I am not a supporter or opponent of it I am a supporter of DEMOCRATS. And this reads to me like an approach to reaching potential D voters who will not ever support "socialism", whatever you personally may think of it. In any case, if they are DEMOCRATS, I am SUPPORTING them as soon as they are the ballot entry for the GE on the D line.

[SocialDemocrat61]

38. 13 out of 200?

Big deal

[betsuni]

93. Rule: If even one Democrat can be used to suppress support for the whole party, we're off to the races.

Rule of never giving Democrats the benefit of the doubt and leap screaming to the worst possible motive.

Trying to demonize centrists -- the types Republicans need more of? The ones you can make deals with because they'll comprise, unlike radicals? The ones without strict purity tests and ideology?

And then there's the fake socialism. What a lot of people think are socialist policies are liberal Democratic, the Democratic Party platform. The policies Democrats have.

[Etherealoc1]

39. What's the point of this....

It's a state by state approach, what works in one state may not work in another. Ugh, finally there is some momentum and tangible results , why create an appearance of disunity just because the Repubs are trying to drive a narrative. Smarten up folks this not the time for this sh*t.

[Emile]

40. More Fettermans.

[AZProgressive]

42. Democratic Socialism is now mainstream

Last edited Fri Jun 26, 2026, 06:08 PM - Edit history (1)

It is according to this poll from November last year and I don't think much has changed based on recent results.

8 Nov 2025
New Poll: Democratic Socialism Is Now Mainstream

A new national survey commissioned by DSA Fund and Jacobin, with support from the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, New York Office, and fielded by Data for Progress (N=1,257 likely voters; MOE ±3) takes stock of where democratic socialism stands with the electorate — and what it would take to build stable, working-class majorities beyond deep-blue districts.

Among Democrats, democratic socialists enjoy significant popularity. The poll’s findings include:
Democrats prefer democratic socialism to capitalism by a 58-point margin. Socialism wins overall with likely voters under forty-five years old.
Democrats prefer left-wing political figures similar to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Bernie Sanders, and Zohran Mamdani over establishment politicians similar to Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, and Nancy Pelosi by a 20-point margin.

This was also true across party lines in critical voting blocs: non-college (+9), Latinos (+30). Candidates who identify as democratic socialists are viewed just as favorably (+69) among registered Democrats as candidates who identify only as Democrats (+67).

(snip)

70% of all respondents say that our economic system is “rigged in favor of corporations and the wealthy” and needs to be replaced; this includes 67% of independents and 58% of Republicans.
59% of respondents (and 58% of Republicans) blame landlords and banks more than government regulation for the high cost of housing.
83% of respondents agree that social work and mental health are necessary parts of a public safety budget; this includes 81% of independents and 80% of Republicans. This was true across all partisan, racial/ethnic, geographic, and class groups.
15% of Donald Trump voters prefer democratic socialism to capitalism. These voters tended to be younger and non-white.

https://rosalux.nyc/new-poll-democratic-socialism-is-now-mainstream/

I feel the party is committing self-sabotage by labeling Democratic Socialists who are also fellow Democrats as extremism.

3 of the 4 states that border Mexico are mostly blue states. In Arizona Republicans that go hard right on "the border" often lose statewide. Arizona mostly elects Democrats statewide in recent history and the Arpaio types are mostly in the past or no longer hold office. I agree it is an important issue but it isn't really among the top issues facing voters in this state.

[Ars Longa]

43. Oh alright ...OK, from now on.... you get TWO bread crusts a day-- instead of ONE.

[Emile]

47. My thoughts too!

[yardwork]

61. Every one of these candidates is the Democratic candidate in their district.

Each of them is running against a Republican in the fall GE.

They are our party's candidates.

[durablend]

48. This is likely going to be a theme

Seeing it from them, seeing it from Trump, seeing LTTE's like it's all coordinated. "BOOGA BOOGA BOOGA SOCIALISM IS COMING OH NOES"

[Prairie Gates]

50. I'm for socialism, taxing the billionaires into nonexistence, labor's freedom of movement equals capital's

freedom of movement, and ethical comportment toward being-in-the-world.

[Violet_Crumble]

51. What's wrong with socialism?

Who on earth talks about extremism by putting MAGA and democratic socialists in the same sentence?? What policies and stances do they think are extreme? I've seen some here at DU say that socialism is a dirty word in the US and democratic socialists should be discouraged from being Democrats, but pandering to politically ignorant people isn't the way to go. Education and showing people what can be done is the solution to that. The Mayor of New York is leading the way on that, and also AOC. I saw a really good documentary thing where she travelled to deep red parts of the US and talked with people about data centres being built close to their homes. I think she changed some hearts and minds doing that.

To be opposed to socialism is to be opposed to workers rights and trade unions, universal healthcare, free education etc. Which I guess is why the US is in the mess it's in right now....

[Nanjeanne]

103. As MLK Jr said

"Call it democracy, or call it democratic socialism, but there must be a better distribution of wealth within this country for all God's children."

[H2O Man]

133. Thank you!

I am having a very difficult day today. You have provided me with not only some relief, but some absolute happiness!

[Nanjeanne]

134. ...

[yellow dahlia]

52. "We disagree with socialists," Suozzi said".

Well then - get off the fucking highway!

If your house is on fire - grab the hose. Don't call the fire department.

You hear a burglar breaking into your house - no 911 for you.

[pat_k]

54. Democratic Socialists aren't socialists. They are the real centrists.

In issuing this they are promoting radical right propaganda.

Democrats who move "right" aren't "moderate" or "centrist" -- they just moving toward the fascist corporatism of today's Republican Party.

Those defending the principles of liberal democracy against fascist corporatism, whether under the label Independent, Democrat, or Democratic Socialist, are advocating things that are squarely in the center of our politics.

In a nutshell (less than 3 minutes)

The entire video. We MUST challenge the propaganda and be crystal clear on what is really the center of our politics, and what principles have been a throughline across our history.

[Bluetus]

56. Please corect tthe headline. These people are not at the "center" of anything.

[Nanjeanne]

73. It was the Wash Post description.

[Bluetus]

75. I suggest putting it in quotes then, because it is an opinion of theirs, certainly not a fact.

We don't need to be repeating the gaslighting here.

It is like Jerry Falwell's old "Moral Majority", which was neither moral nor representing the majority. Words matter. We need to push back at every step.

[Raven123]

62. Got any details to go with that rhetoric?

Words don’t fill the fuel tank, pay for health care, and are not edible. How about some definitive proposals.

[mr715]

66. Oh goodie.

Who wants tea when we can have tepid dishwater instead?

[hatrack]

68. Not just tepid dishwater - sour sink water that's been sitting there for three days with grease and soap in it . . .

Not enough change in this meaningless No Labels and Oh-So-Lieberman goo to use a payphone in 1955.

[Ars Longa]

70. PTA is Vague Classic "No Labels" stuff : Zero mention of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid--

No mention of wealth inequality. No mention of Tech Bro Billionaires,
Trillionaires.. and so on!

[Martin Eden]

74. "Fiscal discipline?" ... TAX THE RICH, and ...

STOP STUPID WARS, and DEFUND ICE!!!

[Deminpenn]

78. A good start for the creation of a new Republican

party.

[everyonematters]

79. The question is what are we going to do make difference in peoples lives.

Are these centrists against raising the minimum wage?

[50 Shades Of Blue]

80. I'm glad my rep didn't sign that.

[gab13by13]

81. Lol,

and I was silenced for pointing out the problem with moderate Dems fighting with progressive Dems.

Why are we even putting labels on Democrats?

[in2herbs]

82. I was almost convinced to vote for candidate Marlene Galn-Woods in Arizona but her decision to sign on to this

changed my mind. I don't want "more of the same." I will now vote for Jonathan Treble.

[duckworth969]

96. Aw, hell...

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Writing a manifesto no less 🫤

[Nixie]

97. Flipping a red district that Donald Trump won is an actual

achievement. You have to applaud that.

[lapucelle]

98. I'm proud to say that we flipped two Nassau county districts blue in 2024,

and we're working hard to keep it that way.

Suozzi et alia are doing the smart thing in distancing themselves from DSA. There's no reason why Democrats in reddish-purple districts need to be saddled with their "abolish prisons / abolish borders" talking points. That stuff is even more toxic than the disastrous "defund the police" mantra of 2022.

[Nixie]

146. That is a true accomplishment. Thank you for your service

in making actual progress for our party and in delivering the right messaging. Replacing Republicans is the goal and the true accomplishment.

[Kid Berwyn]

99. President Harry S Truman knew the type and warned us.

“Given the choice between a Republican and someone who acts like a Republican, people will vote for the real Republican all the time.”

[JBTaurus83]

101. What a piece of shit document

They sound like Republicans. NO I am not proud of this country and I will not be brow beat into saying I am.

If you want to talk fiscal discipline talk taxation, loopholes and how continuing to ignore the impending environmental disaster will bankrupt this country.

The people in the middle don’t care about “capitalism, socialism, fascism” etc. most of these low info voters can’t even define them. They just want some type of result.

I’d really love to know if the people in their districts were clamoring for them to make this inane and purposely vague statement of platitudes.

[mzmolly]

102. Al politics is local. - Tip O'Neill

Democrats are going to vote with Democrats and share a set of values benefiting the working class, regardless.

[bucolic_frolic]

104. Putting lipstick on capitalism with colonial era values

[johnnyfins]

105. You can NOT have "fair" capialism without some

Form of socialism. Besides, we on the left are all communists now anyway... :/

[JBTaurus83]

113. Exactly

If you propose any type of regulation or taxation at all, you get the communist label.

[Munu]

106. The "Carville Fetterman axis" trying to look relevant n/t

[lapucelle]

115. James Carville supported Conor Lamb in 2022. N/T

[JBTaurus83]

116. Even a broken clock....

[lapucelle]

119. So the "Carville-Fetterman axis" doesn't actually exist

because, unlike many of his progressive cheerleaders, Carville saw through Fetterman at the onset.

Good to know.

[JBTaurus83]

121. I wasn't the one that posted that

I don’t even think Carville would agree with Fetterman much.

[KPN]

140. Well, mainstream is socialist. I really wish they would use the label communist instead of socialist

when saying what they are not. Otherwise, I might actually react tolerantly if not favorably to this statement. What they describe is free market capitalism, placing all the emphasis on “affordability”. There is no such thing for far too many in a capitalist economy like ours which increasingly favors “freedom” for corporations and owners to do whatever they want over regulation to ensure affordability, not to mention a healthy and sustainable environment.

I can understand and accept individual Democrats downplaying the reality that government in itself is a socialist construct (notwithstanding the classical definition of socialism), but to organize a centrist opposition within the party against essentially socialized programs and policies in a very vague and sweeping sense (that’s essentially what this is at its base) is alienating for me personally. In fact, it’s totally contrary to my basic belief about the role of government — a belief that’s been firmly cemented by the end results of the vastly deregulated capitalist economy “centrism” has helped achieve over the past 55 years.

These people should start their own party. Progressives aren’t our problem nor the they upstarts in the Democratic Party. Economic, if not social, progressives were the backbone of the Democratic Party from the 30s into the late 60s.

[area51]

141. "Full-time work should make it possible to ... afford healthcare...."

Even the #PEDOnald administation is "only" asking for part-time work for us peasants to receive Medicaid. Hmmm.

[snot]

145. Enough with the labels;

as soon as we come up with a label or phrase that people think they like, it gets appropriated and distorted by those who want to pretend they want the same things but do nothing to bring them about.

I agree that most Americans want many if not most of the things these "centrist" Dems purport to want; but how do we get there? How do we get there when centrist Dems have not only failed to resist or even speak out against Wall St. deregulation, the evisceration of antitrust and labor law, media ownership consolidation, mass surveillance, fruitless wars, and the decision to leave health care up to Big Medical and Big Pharma, but have actively supported them?

The last 50 years have proved that unfettered capitalism does not work. It's time to grow up and recognize that we need a thoughtful mixture of capitalism, to the extent that self-interest and meaningful competition can spur needed innovation and productivity, and socialism, to the extent that self-interest and "competition" do more harm than good (such as with respect to essential goods and services, e.g. health care or utilities) because the required infrastructures are too expensive to duplicate, evaluation of the goods or services require special expertise that's beyond what most of the rest of us can muster, or the providers otherwise have the rest of us at a serious disadvantage.

We also need to remember that there have been plenty of capitalist system run by tyrants and plenty of socialist systems run by tyrants. Whether a government is tyrannical is about how democratic it is – whether it honors fundamental human rights such as those of free speech, privacy, and due process, and whether it is truly representative – and has little or nothing to do with what economic system the nation has.

We are going to see a ton of McCarthy-istic labels tossed around during the next couple of years or more. Unfortunately, we can't discuss politics without using labels, words; but it's imperative that we keep our focus on the particular, concrete problems we face and particular, concrete solutions that might be considered, as well as on candidates' actual records for taking particular, concrete, and effective actions to bring about the results they claim to want.