Progressive poised to go big with primary challenges

[HereForTheParty]

Progressive groups, emboldened by the Democratic grassroots' extreme dissatisfaction at their party's older establishment, are preparing to go big in their efforts to unseat Democratic lawmakers.

Why it matters: Three months into the new Congress, more than half a dozen House Democrats already are facing primary challengers. That number is about to skyrocket.

By the numbers: At least seven House Democrats — nearly all north of 70 years old — are staring down primary challenges from younger insurgents.

https://www.axios.com/2025/04/24/house-democrats-primary-challenges

[gay texan]

1. they earned this moment n/t

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

5. Absolutely... it's called DEMOCRACY!!

[brush]

2. Defeat magat republicans TO GAIN THE MAJORITY, not other Dems. Come on. It's not complicated.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

8. So no Dem should be primaried?

You do know that a lot of people are unhappy with what a lot of current Dems are doing. Or not doing.

[Silent Type]

18. Primaries are cool. Creating atmosphere like 2016 where supporters of primary loser(s) didn't support

nominees, not so much.

Personally, I think it’s time for new Democratic candidates in many areas of country. In other areas, maybe the Democrat ain’t what we want, but they’re the only one that can get elected.

[brush]

24. The point is to gain the majority in the House. Running and wining against other Dems...

Last edited Fri Apr 25, 2025, 01:24 PM - Edit history (1)

does not do that...we just leave Speaker Johnson in place to do trump's bidding.

Let's use our heads, not unseat other Democrats. That should not have to be explained on a Democratic board. We clip TSF's wings if he doesn't have control of the House behind him.

[Littlered]

56. I share your view.

[BOSSHOG]

3. Love My House Democrats BUT

Folks in your Seventies, retire. Enjoy your life. Spoil the Grandkids. Getting old ain’t political. Let the kids cross swords with the bad guys.

[Keepthesoulalive]

4. Tell congressman Al Green

Youth is not the answer to all of our problems. Intelligence and clarity will help save our country.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

6. Correct... LEADERSHIP IS THE ANSWER!!

In certain House Districts, not necessarily all, new blood (at any age) can bring us the leadership that the Democratic Party needs and deserves at this critical moment!!

[Sympthsical]

17. Energy is the answer

When you have politicians busting out their readers to sonorously give speeches to people who are half listening, all of the energy leaves the room.

A people led by the lethargic will feel lethargic and they will disengage.

People do not feel spoken to. They feel like they’re in a church - something to be suffered through. “Oh, you’re doing nothing but brought a speech? Aweeeesome. Welp, let’s get this fecklessness over with. I have a brunch to get to.”

People are tired because their politicians are tired.

If we must be in church, give me some of that Jonathan Edward’s shit. I want spiders dangling over the fiery pit, god damnit.

[BOSSHOG]

7. I agree My Friend

AOC is all about intelligence and clarity. As is Jasmine Crockett. As Is Corey Booker. We are on the correct side of the aisle. Old or Young, I will always vote for the Dem Candidate.

[JustAnotherGen]

13. As are Maxine Waters

And James Clyburn.

[BOSSHOG]

14. And if I were one of their constituents

I would vote for them. My congressman is a shallow 57 year old Republican. I’d trade him for a Dem of any age. I’d rather not tell a candidate of ours, no don’t run for office your too young.

[JustAnotherGen]

31. I don't think

Anyone is telling them to not run for office because they are too young.

In a country on the verge of registries for people who have disabilities (Autism is just the beginning) - I don't think we should have a DNC Vice Chair saying people are too old.

He may not be saying it directly, but it is certainly implied.

[brush]

27. Gain the majority in the House first. Unseating other Dems does not do that.

Once we regain control of the House, then we sort out older Dems aging out.

Let's use our heads AND GAIN THE MAJORITY.

[Walleye]

30. Only if the "kids" can win the seats and be good Democrats

I mean, showing unity with our party. So many young people don’t seem to know how the game works. Winning a primary is not a victory. It has to be winning an election, begging old people to retire is not gonna work.

[JustAnotherGen]

32. Especially

With the coming destruction by theft of Social Security.

It doesn't give me any warm fuzzies that they'll restore mine to the target payment statement I received in December.

I can only hope folks like Buttigieg and Booker can sit down with Hogg and explain a few things.

[Walleye]

35. Yep, I'd love to be able to relax and enjoy my retirement, but no

[GusBob]

9. This is starting to remind me of Bernie v Hillary redux

And just how well did that work out?

Only this seems to be about age, not ideals. And that will not work out any better

God that was an ugly, ugly time at DU.

While we were all too busy infighting Putin was getting busy with other forms of election interference

[JustAnotherGen]

12. This

And if they fail we'll hear a bunch of bullshit about rigged elections.

Not that the voters didn't think they aligned with their vision - but rigged nonsense.

[betsuni]

33. 100% guarantee. Inconceivable that voters chose someone else, HAS to be rigged by Teh Establishment

who are TERRIFIED and will stop at nothing to thwart progress because all they care about is money, lobsters, and Champagne. A day without a conspiracy theory about Democrats is like a day without sunshine.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

23. I can't help but wonder

how much of this Democratic in fighting is being stoked by MAGAt Republicans, behind the scenes or blatantly in plain view.

[JustAnotherGen]

36. One of the seven

Declared without living in the District. Chris Smith in NJ has done that for years as a Republican. She may live in the District now, but that's warning number 1. She's planning to move there.

Warning number 2 - Jeff Van Drew. He flipped GOP as soon as he got elected. Unlike her - he did not come from a family of Republicans. Like - highly active in the inner halls of the Republican Party.

[betsuni]

25. It's clear what will happen. Same weaponizing words to demonize Democrats. Establishment, status quo,

corporate, corrupt by campaign contributions, elites, etc., same character attacks -- when it's not about policy, they go after character and now age. Voters get more and more cynical and don't vote in the general election. Republicans win these very close elections and Democrats are blamed with the same old bullshit about ignoring the working class and messaging and not fighting.

And again, we who are Democrats supporting Democrats on a forum for people supporting Democrats are mocked as trolls down at the bingo hall.

[Nixie]

26. +1, plus they don't mention that Bernie Sanders is 83.

No word of primarying him, although he’s one of the oldest still taking up space that supposedly should be for someone younger. So the age thingy is just a ruse.

[betsuni]

28. Take it back! The one of whom you speak is younger than the young, more of a Democrat than a Democrat!

[Nixie]

42. Yes, he gets a pass! His 83 is super special!

[Littlered]

57. I agree completely.

I was looking for more information about the judge that was arrested, and came across this. I know nothing of Florida politics, and perhaps this is nothing more than kabuki theater. But it doesn’t sound good. https://apnews.com/article/florida-democrat-leaves-party-jason-pizzo-gop-2a09a5ebaba64ce10cf2c7b519f931e3

[question everything]

11. "stand on principles" and lose the war. Give the Rs in Congress absolute majority

[madinmaryland]

15. DEMOCRATS ARE IN DISARRAY...

Fuck that shit.

It’s what the corporate media wants you to believe. K

[MorbidButterflyTat]

22. And the MAGAt Republicans

[Sympthsical]

16. I love my representative, however

He is 80 years old with cancer. I did not think he should’ve run in 2024.

It is an incredibly safe blue seat. C’mon, guy. You did a great job, but there is a time to gracefully transition to the next generations and allow others to grow their networks, gain experience, and represent people who are closer to being their peers.

We used to be the party for the young and those looking towards the future. How we became a cable news commercial for Colonial Penn is absolutely absurd.

[Celerity]

19. Bay Area congressman John Garamendi diagnosed with cancer

https://www.ktvu.com/news/bay-area-congressman-john-garamendi-diagnosed-blood-cancer

Congressman John Garamendi on Monday announced that he is receiving treatment for a type of blood cancer. "Like 1.9 million Americans each year, I recently received the dreaded call from my doctor informing me that I had cancer," Garamendi wrote on social media. "I am thankful to have caught this early, and we are confident that I will soon be in remission."

Garamendi, D-Fairfield, is in his eighth term in the U.S. House of Representatives. He said he has early-stage multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy and immunotherapy at Kaiser Oncology in Sacramento. Garamendi's 8th district includes all or parts of Richmond, Hercules, Rodeo, Martinez, Vallejo, Bay Point, Pittsburg, Antioch and Fairfield.

"I have a long, long list of projects and goals for my district in the East Bay counties of Contra Costa and Solano," Garamendi said, in a video posted on X. "So I will continue to work as I take the treatments. However, I've been cautioned by my doctors to reduce unnecessary exposure to avoid COVID-19, the flu and other viruses. In addition to destroying cancer cells, chemotherapy impairs natural antibodies and undermines the body's immune system."

Garamendi's political career started in 1974, when he was elected to the first of four terms in the California State Legislature. From 1991 to 1995, and again from 2003 to 2006, Garamendi served as the California insurance commissioner. He also served as deputy secretary of the interior under President Clinton and was elected California's lieutenant governor in 2007. He was first elected to Congress in 2009.

[Sympthsical]

41. He's very, very good with constituent services

I really don't have anything negative to say about him aside from, "You've been in politics longer than I've been alive, and the party desperately needs turnover and to make space for people who will take it forward."

And it isn't like we're asking people to wander off into the woods and die. People can still hang around, work on projects, and serve their communities if that is their true passion. But it's like we're on season 24 of the Walking Dead, the audience is listless, and we need some new faces to drum up enthusiasm. 23% approval? Yeah, no one's watching our show. We're literally banking on the Trump disaster being the electoral equivalent of "There's nothing else on tv, so what else are you going to watch?" for us. Schumer's more or less said that's the plan.

I don't know if people know they can't take power with them.

[Skittles]

20. DO IT

IF THESE FOLK REFUSE TO PASS THE BATON JUST FUCKING OVERTAKE THEM ALREADY

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, WE NEED CHANGE AND IT NEEDS TO START NOW

[brush]

29. GAIN THE MAJORITY IN TH HOUSE FIRST, subbing a younger Dem for a sitting Dem does not do that.

Sort out the age thing AFTER WE REGAIN THE HOUSE MAJORITY.

It's not that hard to understand. Once we have the majority, we help to clip trump's wings, help save the democracy and the economy. Sort out the rest after regaining control.

[Celerity]

45. It doesn't work that way. The Democratic brand is in bad shape atm & maintaining the status quo doesn't aid in reversing

our current state.

Just one example of that current state:

Democrats are grappling with a young electorate that's disaffected with both parties.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220267028

[brush]

48. Please, lastest polls show trump's approval rating is at 37% and you're free to think...

it's getting better.

So what doesn't work that way?

Gaining the majority to stop trump if we can?

I think we can by 2026 the way trump is fucking up, and he's barely 100 days in yet on his second term.

[Celerity]

51. Trump's unpopularity only makes the fact we are still so low despite that even more of a reason to jettison

the status quo. I am also most definitely not in the Carville camp.

[brush]

52. IMO we are not as low as you seem to think. And by the mid-terms, trump will be..

even lower so trying to wrest the majority from the republicans is well worth it.

Subbing one Dem who Hogg prefers for a sitting Dem doesn't get us there.

[Celerity]

53. I disagree, which is where we are going to have to leave it, as neither one of us is going to change our minds.

I respect your opinion, I just do not share it.

[brush]

55. Agreed. We'll see once the mid-terms roll around.

[Celerity]

58. I also want to see what incumbents we are talking about. Some I may disagree with primarying. I always go on a case-by-

case basis.

I do not think any in vulnerable districts should be primaried (and Hogg said he will not support that).

[MorbidButterflyTat]

21. The MAGAt Republicans cheer

for the latest Dem divide.

[William769]

34. Great way to help keep republicans in power.

[JustAnotherGen]

37. Intraparty spats

When the Republican Maga party has the trifecta this is stupid.

The Republican Maga party has made working class into a Cultural identity. I don't think young Americans in general get/understand that they started ramping up in 1994 with their Contract on America which demonized Black American women. To be clear - many of us were working class.I was at University - and accused of getting a free ride on a daily basis. Uh no - had a perfect score on the ACT and 1580 on the SAT and didn't qualify for any financial aid until unsubsidized loans became a 'thing' second semester of my Sophomore year - but I digress . . .

The point is they speak about high rent and oligarchs - but they haven't found a way to turn it into a culture war.

Until then - Republicans are evil and have to be stomped into submission. I know that doesn't align with the "we are not your enemy" at some rallies -

But hey! We are a big tent right? I just don't want them getting in my way of 'My Cruelty To The Other' is the point. I flipped the bird at America 31 years ago, beat it at its own game, and my finger is still up.

They aren't going to keep the SALT Cap and keep giving my money to racist white Magat Republicans in red counties and states. When I hear Oligarch - that's where my mind goes. And since 2015 - I've still not seen the message bring racist white Working Class Republicans to our side.

The message would hit me better if they were at rallies saying "Hey we know behind closed doors you drop n-bombs - but here's why you have to see Black folks, Latinos, Asians as fellow Americans".

They aren't stating clearly what those people are.

[bottomofthehill]

38. This is a great plan fuck the old.

Fuck Bernie
Fuck Nancy Pelosi
Fuck Maxine Watters
Fuck Jim Clyburn
Fuck Rosa DeLauro
Fuck Marcy Kapture
Fuck Bennie Thompson
Fuck Ed Markey

What have they ever done for us…..


Wait what…..

Sarcasm thing added.


What are we thinking. These are people who have actually made America great and now some little kid (granted who was involved in a tragic shooting) throws a hissy fit and we should throw these proven leaders out for untested kids because they are younger. Fuck that, beware of the old warrior, there is a reason they got that way.

[betsuni]

39. The "insurgents" run against the Democratic Party. That's the point, and probably a lot of supporters

don't understand they're being deceived, believe the disinformation and lies about the history of the party and its platform and policies.

Why would their populist heroes lie to them? What is their goal? Why are they running against Democrats when their accusations about corruption and not being progressive and ignoring the working class are obviously false? Why the lust to turn Democrats into evil enemies they must destroy?

[ForgedCrank]

40. Odds say

we have a favorable chance of re-taking the house and senate in the mid-terms.
I understand why some want to do this, but if it's serious, they are jeopardizing our opportunity to right the ship. Right now, unity is the only way. Demanding purity will be the thing that defeats us

[Rob H.]

43. Won't somebody think of the septuagenarians?!?

[MineralMan]

44. If they somehow succeed in this, just say goodbye to our Democracy.

If the GOP gets supermajorities in both houses, we are doomed.

I can't believe they're trying this lame idea again, and I hope Democrats will re-elect those loyal Democrats who have long service in Congress.

Am I hopeful? Cautiously.

[MineralMan]

46. Which Party Are You Here For?

Seems like an apt question.

[Mountainguy]

47. So progressives will primary democrats

and then lose most of those primaries, get mad, and refuse to vote for democrats in general elections.

Seen this movie before.

[betsuni]

50. Screaming about rigging and DNC anointing, AIPAC and people working for corporations donated $ OMG.

A few will take back the "rigging" nonsense if they plan on running for public office again, but the message is clear: Democrats are corrupt. May as well not vote, both sides are the same anyway.

Great messaging there! That will really get out the vote for progress to help the American people as Democrats always do. Oh wait, it only makes people disgusted and cynical. Nice job! We know who doesn't give a shit about progress and is shitty at messaging.

[Sky Jewels]

49. Excellent! Bring it on!

Long overdue!

[Passages]

54. Don't listen to any new ideas/approaches.

The one in place is working great, play dead and keep playing dead until we win back the House, Senate, and the White House..

At this rate, that could be a very long time, but why change??? During his eight years in office, Obama oversaw a net loss of 947 state legislative seats, 63 House seats, 11 senators, and 13 governors.

Let's keep that up!