Democrats grapple with choice of progressive vs. centrist

Democratsaregrapplingwithanexistentialquestionasthe2028Democraticprimarycomesintoview:Isacentristorprogressivecandidatebestpositionedtowinnotonlythenomination,butalsoinNovemberagainsttheGOP? Rep.AlexandriaOcasio-Cortez(D-N.Y.)isincreasinglybeingseenasthefutureofthepartybyDemocratswhosaysheandotherprogressives,suchasNewYorkCityMayorZohranMamdani,representtheparty’senergy. Theseprogressivesareexcitingthebase,drawinglargeralliesanddominatingtheoverallmessagingcomingfromDemocrats. Butothersinthepartyinsistaprogressive wouldfailin ageneralelectionandthatDemocratsneedamorecentristcandidatein2028,likePeteButtigieg—theformersecretaryofTransportationintheBidenadministration—orPennsylvaniaGov.JoshShapiro. Thesecandidates,theiradvocatessay,canappealtonotonlythebase,butalsotoindependentsandRepublicanscriticaltowinningthegeneralelection. “Theloudestvoicesareontheprogressiveleft,butIdon’tknowifthat’swherethepartyis,”saidSteveSc