The Democratic Party, a historically progressive force in the United States, is experiencing a shift towards maintaining the status quo. This transition was evident in recent events, as Democrats reacted to Supreme Court rulings on affirmative action and the overturning of Roe v. Wade. They also celebrated the Court’s decision to uphold the Voting Rights Act. Instead of advocating for transformative policies, the Democrats are focusing on defending progress that has already been made. This shift can be attributed to three converging factors: the party’s success in achieving its goals, the changing demographics of its supporters, and the radicalism of the Trump-era Republican Party.
In recent years, the Democratic Party has accomplished many of its major objectives and has now turned its attention towards protecting and solidifying those victories. Additionally, the party’s most influential supporters come from sectors of society that have benefitted from the current state of affairs. Therefore, they are less inclined to pursue transformative change. Furthermore, the Republican Party under Trump has deviated from traditional conservative principles and embraced radical positions in domestic and foreign policy. This necessitates that the Democrats adopt a more conservative stance to maintain the balance of two-party politics.
As noted by Chris Hayes in The Atlantic, liberals find themselves in the peculiar situation of having won most of their major battles in recent times. While some victories may have been smaller than desired, the overall record shows that the Affordable Care Act is here to stay, gay marriage is legal and popular, and significant infrastructure and climate-change legislation has been passed. However, these policy wins are not guaranteed, as the Supreme Court has systematically undermined Democratic priorities. This dynamic forces the Democrats to assume a conservative role in defending existing policies. The party also recognizes the electoral advantages of opposing the Court’s decisions, as voters are likely to object to the erosion of rights and popular policies.
Defending the status quo is a safer strategy for Democrats than pursuing new ideas. While progressive policies may have public support, they are not feasible in the current political climate. Immigration reform and higher taxes on the wealthy, for example, poll well but remain out of reach. Moreover, many activist-driven proposals, such as Medicare for All and defunding the police, are divisive within the party’s ranks and unpopular with the general public. Therefore, Democrats are hesitant to build their political campaigns around these policies.
The Democrats’ embrace of the status quo also reflects the significant changes within the party’s base. Previously including the white and black working classes, labor, and immigrants, the party now primarily represents minority voters and white professionals who are thriving under the current conditions. While wealthy individuals predominantly align with the Republican Party, the affluent individuals who back the Democrats are either business owners or ultra-wealthy individuals who are skeptical of Trump’s radical vision. The shift in support from white, upper-middle-class suburbanites further reinforces this trend.
These structural factors are further influenced by the inclinations of the party’s leader, President Biden. Biden, at 80 years old, carries a significant amount of past experience, and his campaign focused on nostalgia and restoration. He aimed to restore a pre-Trump paradigm that differed greatly from Trump’s vision of greatness. Biden’s transformative initiatives, such as implementing an industrial policy, were framed as efforts to bring back the ideals of the New Deal and invoke the spirit of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Progressive writers have also drawn inspiration from past eras of American innovation.
While the age of Democratic conservatism does not necessarily indicate a complete realignment of the parties, it may contribute to the current era of political gridlock. One party pursues unpopular and often unconstitutional policies, while the other promises stability.
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