Let’s face it, it just isn’t working. You Democrats have grown too far apart. It is time for a divorce.
After losing the election to political zombie Donald Trump, who arose from the crypt of loss, impeachment, and prosecution, you are looking for a way forward. New leadership is being pushed by your progressives, with rising leftist stars like socialist Zohran Mamdani, Gavin Newsom, and AOC becoming the new faces of your party. Even graybeards like 64-year-old Barack Obama are urging the defenestration of your “dinosaurs” like Chuck Schumer following the shutdown debacle. Predictably, the more moderate traditional Democrats think otherwise.
Some things to consider:
First, you will no longer have the good fortune of facing Trump, a candidate who guaranteed you the support of at least 40 percent of the voters, no matter who you ran as your own candidate. While I am certain that you will thoroughly detest whoever the Republicans run, you won’t hate them as much as Trump.
Second, what approach do you take, lower the drama or scream even louder? Unfortunately, any approach that will reassure party moderates of your sanity will not give your progressives the cathartic release that they crave.
Third, your biggest and most difficult problem will be choosing between the policy demands of the moderate traditional old-school liberals and those of the progressives. Who writes the platform in 2028? It is a big gap with little room for workable compromises.
Immigration will continue to be the most difficult issue. Trump proved that it is possible to control border crossings, and even a substantial portion of moderate Democrats oppose an open border. But any sort of actual control of immigration will result in countless incidents of desperate immigrant families being turned away or deported. Are you emotionally capable of enduring that?
Young progressives demand socialism, while it terrifies the party moderates and independents. Mamdani’s election in New York has made him the national face of the progressives, and the outcome of his experiments will reflect on the party. A spectacular failure could easily doom the “free stuff” Democrats nationally.
The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is unlikely to go away. How do you reconcile the moderates’ wish to support Israel against attack, with the progressives’ determination to support the intifada and eliminate the Jewish state?
The transgender agenda will continue to dog your party and receive a lot of media attention. While progressives will see abandoning any part of it as a morally repugnant betrayal, an increasing number of Democrats see the position as a loser. What do you do?
What do you do about DEI and identity politics? It is growing less popular and cost you the last election. Your traditional support among Latino and Black voters is slipping. Still, identity politics remain a party fixation.
Divorce is painful but is often necessary for personal growth. Progressives can hope that the younger, exciting face of the new party can bring in more like-minded kids, while moderates can hope that a return to moderate politics will bring over independents and Republicans who are unhappy with the party under Trump.
Sorry, but you suffer from irreconcilable differences, and it is time for a divorce and for each of you to go your own way.
John Donegan writes from Pismo Beach. Send a response to letters@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Nov 27 – Dec 4, 2025.