Example Image
Civitas Outlook
Topic
Politics
Published on
Mar 4, 2025
Contributors
Joel Kotkin

The Democrats’ Coming Civil War

Contributors
Joel Kotkin
Joel Kotkin
Senior Research Fellow
Joel Kotkin
Summary
Voters are tired of failed ‘progressive’ dogmas, even in the Democrats’ urban heartlands. But will the party listen?
Summary
Voters are tired of failed ‘progressive’ dogmas, even in the Democrats’ urban heartlands. But will the party listen?
Listen to this article

At a time when the world press is obsessed with US president Donald Trump and his often imbecilic machinations, perhaps a more consequential struggle is taking place on the other side of the aisle. Trump and his minions may completely control the GOP, but the future of the Democrats is uncertain. The party’s left is locked in battle with those who embrace the party’s traditional values, like support for economic growth and enforcing the law.

Right now, on a national level, the Democratic Party seems to be continuing its movement leftwards. Kamala Harris is still its front-runner for the 2028 presidential election and representatives like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jasmine Crockett, who are further to the left, are widely seen as rising stars. Looking at the behaviour of the Democrats and their media allies, they seem to be reprising Talleyrand’s quip that the Bourbon kings of France ‘learnt nothing and forgot nothing’ after the revolution.

At the recent Democratic National Committee election for the party’s new leadership, there was an enduring obsession with race and gender. Veteran Democrat Ruy Teixeira described it as ‘like outtakes from a humanities seminar at a small liberal-arts college’. We saw similar scenes in November, with the backlash received by Massachusetts congressman Seth Moulton when he dared to share concerns about his young daughter potentially having to compete against male athletes. As a result, he faced the resignation of key staffers, as well as threats from one university to cancel an internship programme associated with his office.

Continue reading at Spiked

10:13
1x
10:13
More articles

Rational Judicial Review: Constitutions as Power-sharing Agreements, Secession, and the Problem of Dred Scott

Constitutionalism
Sep 15, 2025

Spencer Cox Provides the Statesmanship America Needs

Politics
Sep 15, 2025
View all

Join the newsletter

Receive new publications, news, and updates from the Civitas Institute.

Sign up
More on

Politics

Liberal Democracy Reexamined: Leo Strauss on Alexis de Tocqueville

This article explores Leo Strauss’s thoughts on Alexis de Tocqueville in his 1954 “Natural Right” course transcript.

Raúl Rodríguez
Politics
Feb 25, 2025
Long Distance Migration as a Two-Step Sorting Process: The Resettlement of Californians in Texas

Here we press the question of whether the well-documented stream of migrants relocating from California to Texas has been sufficient to alter the political complexion of the destination state.

James Gimpel, Daron Shaw
Politics
Feb 6, 2025
Who's That Knocking? A Study of the Strategic Choices Facing Large-Scale Grassroots Canvassing Efforts

Although there is a consensus that personalized forms of campaign outreach are more likely to be effective at either mobilizing or even persuading voters, there remains uncertainty about how campaigns should implement get-out-the-vote (GOTV) programs, especially at a truly expansive scale.

Grant Ferguson, James Gimpel, Mark Owens, Daron Shaw
Politics
Dec 13, 2024
National Poll from Civitas Institute: Trump Victory Driven by Voters Who Reject Status Quo

The poll asked 1,200 Americans an array of questions about how things are going in America.

Daron Shaw
Politics
Dec 11, 2024

The Three Whiskey Happy Hour

Steven Hayward brings you the Power Line Blog's perspective on the week's big headlines.

View all
** items
Decadent Ideology, Decaying Fraternity

Richard Reinsch reviews Prosperity and Torment in France by Chantal Delsol.

Richard M. Reinsch II
Politics
Sep 4, 2025
DC and LA Failures Play Into Trump’s Hands

Although clearly violating America’s long-standing federalist principles, Trump’s incursions are being justified by the incompetence of most blue-city leaders.

Joel Kotkin
Politics
Aug 14, 2025
Climate Lawyers Try a New Approach

Heatstroke killed Julie Leon on a 108-degree day. A lawsuit blames oil companies.

Michael Toth
Politics
Aug 11, 2025
Reading the New Conservatives

Richard Reinsch reviews The New Conservatives by Oren Cass.

Richard M. Reinsch II
Politics
Jul 31, 2025

Kotkin: Non-Aligned Nations Navigating a Multipolar World

Politics
Aug 19, 2025
1:05

Wall Street Journal: Donald Trump Takes On the Conservative Judiciary

Politics
Jun 2, 2025
1:05

Trump’s Drug Pricing Plan: Consequences for Innovation and Patient Access

Politics
May 13, 2025
1:05

John Yoo: The DOJ Is Being ‘Tricky’ but They May Be Right

Politics
Mar 18, 2025
1:05

John Yoo: How Will Trump Try to ‘Redirect’ the Justice Department Toward ‘Public Order and Safety’?

Politics
Mar 14, 2025
1:05
No items found.
No items found.
Spencer Cox Provides the Statesmanship America Needs

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox did not say what many wanted to hear but what they needed to hear in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk's murder.

Thomas D. Howes
Politics
Sep 15, 2025
Conservatism's Timeless Triad: Puritans, Pioneers, and Robber Barons

Conservatives should pay attention to the ever-changing forms of the puritan, pioneer, and robber baron in everyday American life, draw inspiration from them, and proclaim the rightward center of gravity among them as “conservatism.”

Ronald W. Dworkin
Politics
Sep 12, 2025
Michael Lucchese on Understanding Reagan's Conservatism and Buchanan's Populism

Michael Lucchese discusses Reagan's conservatism and the different path of Buchanan's populism.

Michael Lucchese
Politics
Sep 3, 2025
Not-So-Beautiful Losers: How Conservatism Won the Cold War – and Lost the Peace

Buchanan's populism, unlike Reagan's appeals, wasn't anchored in the spiritual realities at the heart of the American Founding. Much of the same is evident in Buchanan's latter-day disciples.

Michael Lucchese
Politics
Sep 1, 2025
No items found.