Political Wire

Schumer and Jeffries Fail to Stop Brooklyn Power Play

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“Democrats are at war in Brooklyn over a maneuver some inside the party have called ‘corrupt,’ a ‘power-grab’ and even ‘fascist.’ And they’re not talking about Republicans,” Politico reports.

”With weeks to go before the midterm elections, an intraparty feud is on full display among Democrats jockeying for control of the party apparatus in one of the bluest, most populous counties in the country. And some in the party worry the quarrel is exposing the limits of the party’s two most powerful politicians: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, both Brooklynites.”

Voters Have a Message for Democrats

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Sarah Longwell: “In 2016, Republican voters looked at their party’s leadership—the Romneys, McCains, and Bushes—and decided they were done. Those leaders were too weak, too unwilling to fight, too committed to norms and processes that Democrats didn’t respect anyway. Republican voters hired a wrecking ball named Trump to knock it all down. Ten years later, I’m hearing similar sentiments from Democratic voters. They don’t trust Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, or any of the old-guard party leaders who allowed Trump to take over America. They want their own wrecking ball.”

“There’s a distinction here. Democrats don’t want Trump’s politics or even necessarily his all-out norm breaking. But they want his energy. They’re sick of a Democratic Party that does the functional equivalent of sending a strongly worded letter while democracy burns down around us.”

“That tension—absolutely not, but also yes—is the defining mood among Democratic voters right now. They don’t want to become what they hate. But they are tired of losing to it.”

Far-Left Democrats Have Big Demands for Party Leaders

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“The left wing of the Democratic Party flourished this summer as fed-up liberals in key races across the country have eschewed traditional, more moderate candidates in favor of hard-charging progressives,” CNN reports.

“But behind the scenes, ultra-progressive House members and candidates are pushing their own party leaders to reflect more of that mood — arguing that Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and his allies are, so far, failing to grasp the demands of far-left voters who showed up in droves this summer.”

The Guardian: Leftist insurgents are storming the midterms – just don’t call them all democratic socialists.

Democratic Socialists Turn to Social Events for Recruitment

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Wall Street Journal: “The socialists, it turns out, are highly social.”

“In chapters across the country, they enjoy DSA barbecues, beach days, running clubs, happy hours, karaoke, prom nights, transgender rights and bodily autonomy game nights, reading groups, Marxist study circles and more. The DSA is even moving into affairs of the heart with a recent ‘Socialist Speed Dating’ event in New York’s Lower East Side.”

Democrats Assail John Fetterman After Report

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“Democratic lawmakers and activists criticized Sen. John Fetterman after a Wall Street Journal report found that the senator had shirked many of his duties as a U.S. senator—instead focusing much of his attention on backing Israel and appearing on Fox News,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

Said Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D): “This report is horrifying. 2028 can’t come soon enough.”

A Democratic Reckoning On Data Centers Is Coming

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“House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries could be on a collision course with progressives and grassroots activists who are demanding Congress pass legislation to pause the construction of new data centers. Jeffries, who is set to become speaker if his party wins the House majority in November, hasn’t weighed in on whether he will push a moratorium,” NOTUS reports.

“Polls show Americans have recoiled from President Donald Trump’s directive to become the ‘world’s No. 1 superpower in artificial intelligence’ and the recent blitz of data centers. Democratic candidates across the country are campaigning on a pledge to pause or ban the construction of new data center projects.”

Kamala Harris Fine with Democrats Keeping Their Distance

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“Former Vice President Kamala Harris said Democratic candidates know they must do ‘whatever’ it takes to win in November — even if that means asking the 2024 presidential nominee to stay away from their campaigns,” MS NOW reports.

Said Harris: “Bottom line, we need to win. I have run locally, I’ve run for statewide office and obviously nationally, and these candidates know what they need to do to win. And I would expect nothing less. I support them in doing whatever they need to do to win.”

Politico: Kamala Harris on red-state Dems keeping her at arm’s length: “Whatever they need to do to win.”

Third Way Rolls Out ‘New Economic Bargain’ Platform

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“The Democratic centrist group Third Way is launching a ‘new economic bargain’ platform as part of its ongoing effort to steer the party toward a more coherent and big-tent vision heading into 2028,” Politico reports.

“The platform consists of what it calls 20 ‘ambitious and ruthlessly pragmatic’ ideas targeting working-class voters.”

Democrats Feud Over Defections

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New York Times: “The drama began Tuesday afternoon, when two of the most conservative Democrats in the House broke with their party to pave the way for votes on a slate of Republican bills.”

“By Wednesday, it had mushroomed into a full-on furor featuring accusations of betrayal, demands for punishment for the defectors and a quiet but intense round of whispers about what the episode said about the leadership of Representative Hakeem Jeffries.”

For members: Hakeem Jeffries Is No Nancy Pelosi

No Immediate Plans to Punish Rogue House Democrats

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“Despite a stern message from party leaders, a panel of House Democrats did not settle on any particular consequences for the pair of lawmakers who crossed party lines Tuesday to advance an otherwise troubled slate of Republican-led bills,” Politico reports.

“Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and fellow leaders said the matter would be reviewed by the Democratic Committee on Caucus Rules, which convened Wednesday morning for a prescheduled listening session.”

Related for members: Hakeem Jeffries Is No Nancy Pelosi

Teamsters Union Leaders Support Republicans

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“The powerful Teamsters union is backing Republican candidates in the 2026 election cycle even after members have voted to support their Democrat opponents,” The Guardian reports.

“The 1.3 million-strong union’s president, Sean O’Brien, angered many members and union leaders in 2024 when he became the first union president to speak at the Republican national convention.”

Inside the Democratic Socialists’ War Over 2028

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“Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s potential run for president has exposed long-simmering divisions within the Democratic Socialists of America,” Axios reports.

“The socialism movement’s leaders are increasingly at odds over who should speak for them, what policies they stand for — and whether to support AOC, whom some dismiss as more establishment than insurgent.”

Meet the Ex-Republicans Running as Democrats

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“Democrats have struggled to win over Republican voters in recent elections. This year, some Democratic candidates argue they can change that — because they were once Republicans,” the Washington Post reports.

“These party switchers say that they have unique insight into the concerns of voters distrustful of party politics, as well as those who feel they have no real home in either party, and that this knowledge will give them an edge in the upcoming midterm elections.”

Brian Schatz Looks to Steer Senate Democrats

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“You probably haven’t seen much of Brian Schatz on cable news or the Sunday shows, but he’s in line to soon change the face of Senate Democrats,” Bloomberg reports.

“The 53-year-old Hawaii senator is on track to become the No. 2 Democrat in the chamber next year, bringing a fresh and younger voice to the top of a leadership team that many on the left see as too conventional and too creaky.”

“The move would also put Schatz first in line to lead the caucus, and play an even bigger national role whenever Chuck Schumer steps aside — though that move would likely come with more competition.”

Democrats Plan Defense Against Trump Election Meddling

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“Congressional Democrats are preparing for a new kind of midterm challenge: the risk that President Trump will attempt to undermine November’s elections by claiming fraud or interfering in the voting process,” NPR reports.

“At the center of their effort is a task force of at least 11 senators, as well as staff and a constellation of outside experts and groups convened by top congressional Democrats to protect against what Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. describes as ‘direct threats posed by President Trump and MAGA Republicans.'”

Inside the Backlash Over the Jeffries-Kushner Meeting

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“House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ long-standing tensions with his party’s left flank resurfaced this week after news broke of his meeting with President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner,” Axios reports.

“Jeffries will have to make nice with the left next year if Democrats win back the House with only a narrow majority. Blowups like this are not helping.”

CNN: Jeffries says his meeting with Jared Kushner was a “high-level, topical conversation.”

About Political Wire

Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire, one of the earliest and most influential political web sites. He also runs Political Job Hunt, Electoral Vote Map and the Political Dictionary.

Goddard spent more than a decade as managing director and chief operating officer of a prominent investment firm in New York City. Previously, he was a policy adviser to a U.S. Senator and Governor.

Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country.

Goddard earned degrees from Vassar College and Harvard University. He lives in New York with his wife and three sons.

Goddard is the owner of Goddard Media LLC.

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