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Have Progressives Peaked? Democratic Primaries Will Test Their Power/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Upcoming Senate primaries in Maine, Michigan and Minnesota will test whether progressives are reshaping the Democratic Party or weakening its midterm prospects. Bernie Sanders and his allies argue voters are moving left, while centrist Democrats warn that progressive nominees could struggle in competitive general elections. The outcome could influence control of the Senate and determine the party’s political direction for years.

Quick Look

• Democrats are divided between an energized progressive wing and the party establishment.
• Maine progressives expect Troy Jackson to win the nomination Saturday.
• Jackson is seeking to replace Graham Platner on the November ballot.
• Platner withdrew following a sexual assault allegation, which he denies.
• Michigan and Minnesota will hold closely watched Senate primaries in August.
• All three states could affect control of the Senate.
• Bernie Sanders is campaigning for Peggy Flanagan in Minnesota.
• Flanagan faces establishment-backed Rep. Angie Craig.
• Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are supporting Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan.
• Some centrists fear El-Sayed could be too progressive for a competitive general election.
• Dozens of Sanders-aligned candidates have won recent Democratic primaries.
• More than 30 candidates supported by the Democratic Socialists of America have secured nominations.
• Rep. Ro Khanna acknowledged that supporting Platner without more vetting was a mistake.
• Sen. Gary Peters endorsed Haley Stevens in Michigan after initially staying neutral.
• Republican officials are portraying progressive gains as evidence that Democrats are moving toward socialism.
• November’s election results could settle the party’s electability debate.

Democratic Divide Enters Crucial Phase

NEW YORK — The next few weeks could reveal whether the progressive movement has reached its peak in the 2026 midterm elections or is beginning a larger transformation of the Democratic Party.

Democrats are engaged in an ideological struggle between progressives seeking sweeping political and economic change and establishment figures emphasizing pragmatism and general-election viability.

Upcoming Senate nomination contests in Maine, Michigan and Minnesota will offer voters three significant opportunities to influence that debate.

All three states could play important roles in determining control of the Senate, increasing the consequences of the candidates Democrats select.

Maine Progressives Rally Behind Troy Jackson

Progressives expect former Maine lawmaker Troy Jackson to secure the Democratic nomination Saturday.

Jackson is seeking to replace Graham Platner on the party’s November ballot after Platner’s campaign collapsed earlier in July.

A Jackson victory could allow progressives to recover from that setback and preserve their influence in a Senate race considered important to the party’s national prospects.

August primaries in Michigan and Minnesota will then offer larger tests of the progressive movement’s strength.

Our Revolution Sees Political Shift

Joseph Geevarghese, who leads the Sanders-founded progressive organization Our Revolution, believes the political environment is moving away from the right.

Progressive leaders argue that voters frustrated with the political system, economic inequality and the war with Iran are increasingly receptive to populist policies.

They see recent primary victories as evidence that the Democratic electorate wants more fundamental change.

Establishment Democrats Warn of Electoral Risk

Democratic establishment leaders have a different assessment.

Many senior figures in the House and Senate fear that the progressive movement’s summer momentum could damage the party’s chances in November.

Democrats may be positioned to win at least one chamber of Congress because of President Donald Trump’s low approval ratings, rising consumer costs and dissatisfaction with the Iran war.

Centrists argue that nominating candidates viewed as too far left could weaken that advantage in competitive states.

Third Way Seeks to Stop Leftward Shift

Matt Bennett, co-founder of the centrist Democratic organization Third Way, is working to counter the progressive wing’s growing influence.

Bennett and other centrists maintain that Democrats should prioritize candidates capable of attracting independent voters and moderate Republicans in November.

Sanders and Allies Mobilize Grassroots

While establishment leaders express concern in Washington, Sanders and his allies are campaigning throughout competitive states.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other prominent progressives have joined the effort to mobilize grassroots activists and promote candidates aligned with their economic agenda.

The movement focuses on policies including Medicare for All, higher taxes on billionaire wealth and opposition to foreign wars.

Progressives believe those positions can inspire voters who are dissatisfied with both traditional parties.

Republicans Welcome Democratic Conflict

Republican officials are closely watching the ideological struggle and believe a Democratic shift to the left could benefit GOP candidates.

Republicans are likely to use the progressive affiliations and policy positions of Democratic nominees in general-election advertising.

The effectiveness of that strategy will depend on the political environment and the candidates selected.

Sanders Campaigns for Peggy Flanagan

Sanders traveled to Minneapolis Monday to campaign for Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan.

Flanagan has aligned herself with Sanders’ populist movement during a competitive Democratic primary for the US Senate.

Flanagan told supporters that her campaign offered a chance to transform the federal government.

Flanagan Faces Angie Craig

Flanagan is competing against Rep. Angie Craig, who has the support of much of the Democratic establishment.

Super PACs and other independent organizations supporting both candidates have spent millions of dollars on the race.

Following the Minneapolis rally, Sanders, Flanagan, Rep. Ilhan Omar and retiring Sen. Tina Smith joined arms as John Lennon’s “Power to the People” played.

The event highlighted the progressive coalition seeking to influence Minnesota’s Democratic electorate.

Progressives Support El-Sayed in Michigan

Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez campaigned Sunday in Michigan for Abdul El-Sayed.

Many centrist Democrats worry that El-Sayed is too progressive to win a must-hold Senate seat in a battleground state.

His candidacy has become another major test of whether an energetic progressive campaign can overcome concerns about ideological positioning in a general election.

Michigan’s result could carry particular weight because both parties view the state as essential to Senate control.

Progressive Candidates Win Across Country

Dozens of candidates aligned with Sanders have won Democratic nomination contests during recent weeks.

The group includes more than 30 candidates endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America.

Some progressive challengers defeated sitting members of Congress, demonstrating dissatisfaction among parts of the Democratic electorate.

Those victories have strengthened the movement’s claim that it is expanding beyond a small group of activists.

Platner’s Collapse Creates Setback

The progressive movement’s most damaging recent setback occurred in Maine.

Platner, a political newcomer aligned with Sanders, defeated Maine’s sitting governor in the Democratic Senate primary.

He withdrew from the race after a former girlfriend accused him of sexual assault.

Platner denied the allegation, although many former allies considered it credible.

Geevarghese called the episode “a bump in the road” and argued that it would not inflict lasting damage on the broader movement.

Khanna Acknowledges Vetting Failure

California Rep. Ro Khanna, a progressive and potential 2028 presidential candidate, acknowledged that he erred by supporting Platner before enough was known about his history.

He maintained that the progressive cause “is so much bigger than any individual.”

Establishment Leaders Increase Involvement

Platner’s withdrawal renewed the Democratic debate about whether progressive nominees undermine the party in competitive general elections.

The controversy also triggered private blame among party officials and encouraged establishment figures to become more involved in other primaries.

Some Democratic senators have supported progressive candidates opposed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other senior leaders.

The divide has become particularly visible in races that could determine the Senate majority.

Gary Peters Endorses Haley Stevens

In Michigan, Sen. Gary Peters endorsed Haley Stevens last week after previously saying he would remain neutral.

The endorsement reflected growing concern about candidate backgrounds and general-election electability following Platner’s collapse.

Establishment Democrats are expected to intensify their involvement as the August primaries approach.

November Will Test Progressive Electability

Bennett said the central objective should be winning the general election.

He did not rule out the possibility that a progressive nominee such as El-Sayed could prevail in Michigan, particularly in a difficult political environment for Republicans.

Voters will ultimately decide whether progressive candidates can convert primary enthusiasm into general-election victories.

The results could shape the Democratic Party’s nominations, policies and national strategy long after the 2026 midterms.

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