The Atlantic’s Marc Novicoff has criticized Democrats for not taking their own advice on moderating their policies to appeal to working-class voters. In his article, he argued that while the Democratic Party officially encourages its leaders to moderate positions, the party has been hesitant to disavow specific progressive policies that could anger its base. The piece highlights that even some rising Democratic leaders, who have called out the party for being too far left, have not taken real steps to moderate their positions on cultural issues like trans athletes and immigration, risking alienation from their core supporters.
Novicoff pointed out that while some leaders have pushed for moderation, the party’s reluctance to disavow these policies is creating a dilemma. For instance, Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., who criticized the party’s leftward shift, was hesitant to take a clear stance on immigration issues. Novicoff noted that even Torres’s so-called ‘flip-flop’ was minor, such as his stance on deporting undocumented immigrants with criminal records. He added that such symbolic gestures are far from the real changes needed to appeal to working-class voters.
The Atlantic’s piece also highlighted examples of symbolic moderation. Gov. Josh Shapiro, D-Pa., who legalized hunting on Sundays, is cited as an example. However, Novicoff criticized this as a token move that does little to address deeper policy issues. He argued that true moderation requires taking risks and making unpopular decisions, such as former President Bill Clinton’s ‘Sister Souljah’ moment, where Clinton denounced a rapper’s controversial comments on race, despite backlash from far-left activists.
Novicoff suggested that moderation is not just about making token gestures but making difficult choices that might anger core supporters. He noted that even Trump, despite being far from a moderate, used selective moderation to win over swing voters. For example, Trump’s 2016 run included commitments to not cut Social Security and Medicare, and in 2024, he promised not to enact a national abortion ban. These positions appealed to broader public opinion while still maintaining support from his base.
The writer also pointed out that the fear of backlash from the party’s base is a major obstacle for Democrats considering moderation. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., who opposed biological men competing in women’s sports, was quickly targeted by protesters and faced a primary challenge from a transgender opponent. Novicoff noted that this fear is keeping many Democrats from making significant changes in their public stance. However, he suggested that the national party must take risks, as holding safe seats does not guarantee political success in the long run.