Will the Left Wing of the Democratic Party Follow Through on its Promises?

By David Starr

Left/Progressive Democrats have exploded on the political scene in the United States. Reactions have ranged from praise to panic.

Much of the Democratic base is fired up, and fed up with corporate democrat policies. ”Bi-partisanship” and “centrism” are somewhat outdated. And come November 2026, when the midterm elections are held, I expect more Left/Progressives to win. In all, the Democrats will probably take the House and the Senate.

A skeptic may wonder if Left/Progressives are for real. Promises have been made. Looking at New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani in his first 100 days, he has already fulfilled some promises, like $1.2 billion in universal childcare, $34 million to help tenants, 9.3 million for worker and small business interests, and $100,000 eliminating potholes in roads.

Then there is Abdul El-Sayed, who won a Democratic primary election in Michigan, edging out pro-Israel fanatic Hailey Stevens. El-Sayed has made several promises: Money out of politics, money in your pocket, Medicare-For-All, working with veterans’ affairs, breaking up big healthcare, affordable or free prescription drugs, an emphasis on public health, and healthcare freedom for women and LGBTQ U.S.citizens.

Those are a lot of promises, and the skeptic may wonder if Mamdani, El-Sayed and other Left/Progressives will follow through. Or, sooner or later, get coopted.

According to a segment on the Sabby Sabs Show, Will Lawrence, who soundly defeated his opponents in another Michigan primary, will face an incumbent Republican for a House seat. Sabby Sabs showed an interview with Lawrence and he sounded like he did have a progressive stance on policies. But, then, Lawrence apparently back-pedaled, saying he supports Democrat Rep. Hakeem Jefferies to be the House speaker. 

Jefferies has received a lot of campaign funds from AIPAC and in turn doesn’t seem to mind that Israel has attempted genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank; as well as other war crimes against neighboring countries. I’ll call this out as moral bankruptcy.

For all his progressive talk, Lawrence grossly contradicts himself by supporting Jefferies. Sabs explained that this could be a strategic move to get support from the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) which wants Jefferies to be House speaker. Lawrence may fear that if he doesn’t support Jefferies, he could incur the wrath of the CBC, perhaps being accused of being a racist and getting no back-up from the caucus.

But this is really disgusting. I thought that you don’t judge a person by his skin color but rather by the content of his character. Seeing that Jefferies fervently supports Israel and apparently ignores its war crimes, and takes on a corporate/neoliberal/Third Way position in deciding policy, it’s a shame that Lawrence would support him, regardless of color.

The Squad has made news over the years, made up of Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Ayanna Presley and IIhan Omar, some of it positive, some of it not positive. What I mean by not positive is how they did cave a little to the corporate neoliberal Democrats.

Red Flag published a piece by Luca Tavan who in 2024 wrote that “the Squad has lost its sheen. Rather than taking a hammer to the Democratic establishment, the Squad has become its enthusiastic left flank. Commitment to unity has meant accepting the Biden administration’s right-wing domestic and international agenda, from voting to impose a unilateral contract on railway workers and quash their right to strike, to voting to fund Israel’s Iron Dome.”

Further, Tavan writes that despite radical stances from their supporters, “the Squad were always moderate liberal Democrats with no real project of challenging the party leadership.” I don’t know if I can say that the Squad was (and is?) strictly moderate liberals. That’s too simplified. They have had their moments of radicalism and their moments of caving to the Democratic establishment.

It is, however, true that the Democrat/Republican duopoly has had a firm hold on power for over 100 years. And that is very difficult to change, at least for now.

But Left/Progressives must continuously maintain a political spine. And there is growing momentum for Left/Progressive policies that are worth taking advantage of.

Staff reporter Russell Payne writes in Salon that “the Squad is about to get bigger in Congress. 

“Left-wing House representatives may be setting themselves up to be an influential bloc in a potential Democratic House majority, thanks to a recent streak of primary victories, marked by progressives gaining momentum in other primaries around the country.

Further, “it looks like these Democratic House representatives might be lining up to wield significantly more power in the House, owing first and foremost to increasing numbers.”

Quantity, strength in numbers, is fine as long as there is quality, i.e., being direct and relentless by proposing policies that benefit the working class and the poor.

Incumbent House Democrats are fearing the Left/Progressive wave. And understandably so. Reporter Andrew Solander wrote a piece for Axios titled “2026 is turning into a bloodbath for safe-seat House Democrats.” Solander details the number of incumbent Democrats who lost to Left/Progressive challengers.

When the 2026 midterm elections get under way in November, expect another bloodbath as Democrats will probably make a sweep and deliver Republicans a major defeat. And Left/Progressives have enough momentum to continue winning.