Gen-Z’s Role in the Democratic Party Civil War
November 4th closed with a variety of gubernatorial and mayoral election victories for Democrats. With this apparent rejection of how Republicans have managed the country – just 12 months after Donald Trump won the 2024 election – Democrats may be breathing a sigh of relief. As this battle against Republicans has ended, however, a new conflict brews on the horizon. The Democrats who achieved victory this month had variations in their platform, illustrating that no one method of governance is preferred amongst Democratic voters. In Boston, New York City, and Seattle, progressives Michelle Wu, Zohran Mamdani, and Katie Wilson were victorious in their respective mayoral elections. In the Minneapolis mayoral race and Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races, Jacob Frey, Abigail Spanberger, and Mikie Sherrill won: your typical centrist Democratic candidates.
While Spanberger and Sherrill trounced their Republican opponents, the other elections, fought between progressive and centrist Democrats, ranged from close to nailbiting (except for Mayor Wu, who ran unopposed). As a result, establishment Democrats, the media, and voters have started discussing what, or who, is the future of the Democratic Party. Are progressives poised to take the reins as they see voters becoming increasingly disillusioned with centrist policies, or will establishment centrist Democrats (who certainly won’t give up power easily) continue to head the party?
The Media & Establishment’s Opinion
Mainstream media’s reaction to progressive victories in this election cycle varied. The New York Post spent more time highlighting that Katie Wilson is supported financially by her parents at the age of 43 than they did discussing her victory or policies. The piece was more an unintentional indictment on our broken economic and political systems than a critique of Wilson herself. Fox News published an opinion piece hailing Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill as the future of the Democratic Party, due to their national security credentials, ability to work in a bipartisan manner, and authenticity. The media isn’t alone in trying to draw a hard line between progressives and centrists. Spanberger herself disapproves of the word “socialism” and has warned Democrats against using the term. This position may indicate a rejection of Mamdani- and Wilson-like democrats with similar policy proposals. The City Journal, which is funded by the Manhattan Institute, argues centrists should remain at the party’s helm. They cite the moderates who cruised to victory in contrast to the democratic socialists who ran much closer races (or lost) as indicative of the direction Democrats should take in the future. Finally, The New York Times published an Op-Ed pitching centrist governor of Pennsylvania Josh Shapiro, who has mixed support within his state, as the Democratic party's future.
Beyond the narratives of the media empires we’re familiar with, a key omission from these pieces is Michelle Wu, the incredibly popular progressive mayor of Boston. As the incumbent candidate, she won her election unopposed after Josh Kraft, son of billionaire Robert Kraft, dropped out. Wu has been working to make Boston more affordable, is investing in the fight against climate change, and funding the improvement of public transit. These are all ostensibly progressive policies that the electorate of Boston overwhelmingly supports. In fact, even outside the progressive areas of the United States like Boston and New York, these policies are popular even if the candidates pushing them are not.
In addition to omitting the election where a progressive cruised to victory, these articles fail to add financial context behind the victories of centrist Democrats. They assume that these candidates won solely due to their centrist position and policies, while ignoring the big financial backing of private interest in both Jacob Frey and Abigail Spanberger’s respective races. Frey received funding from PACs All of Minneapolis, We Love Minneapolis, and Thrive Minneapolis. These organizations are all PACs which receive funds from overlapping big business interests including the Downtown Council, the Minnesota Multi Housing Association, property managers, landlords and developers. Spanberger’s campaign was largely supported by AIPAC, JStreetPAC, and Blackstone. In the context of how American elections are currently run, policy alone can only get candidates so far. The ability of candidates to campaign – spread their message, meet with potential voters, and run attack ads on their opponents, among other campaign requirements – is largely determined by how much money is at the candidate’s disposal. Any analysis on the future of the Democratic party which does not take into account the pivotal role money plays is insufficient in properly assessing the correct path for the party.
Gen-Z Must Decide
As more of Gen Z enters voter eligibility, they will play a key role in not only deciding future elections, but determining the direction their affiliated parties take. The Democratic party has historically found success when it’s moved left. However, the Democratic establishment sent the opposite message when they pushed out 25-year-old DNC vice chair David Hogg earlier this year. Gen Z’ers who wish to change the Democratic party from within, as opposed to assimilate to current party standards, are not welcome.
Of course, Gen Z is not one to sit idle and be told what to do. On November 18, 2025, Cameron Kasky announced his bid for congress for New York’s 12th district. He is running on an explicitly progressive platform and has stated he is running “because it feels like [the Democratic] party has no future. So we need to invest in a new generation to take on the fight.” Kasky is not alone in this sentiment. He is currently the lone progressive in a sea of well-funded centrist candidates which may work out for him in the end. The 25-year-old Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting survivor’s key points are: medicare for all, to stop funding Israel’s genocide of Palestinians, and to abolish ICE. While these policies may not be top-of-mind for every resident of NY-12, Kasky’s progressive platform takes the fight to big business, clearly showing who he will represent if elected to congress.
With the retirement of Rep. Jerrold Nadler, who has been in congress since 1992, many in New York City are jumping at the opening of NY-12. While Kasky is certainly not favored to win, the reaction to his platform and the movement he builds during his race may indicate which direction the party should take in the future.
Gen Z’s decision between being content with the status quo upheld by centrist liberals or supporting progressive or left-wing candidates at the polls will shape future elections. Moving off the path of an ever-expanding military-industrial complex and fossil fuel domination and onto one that prioritizes the needs of humans and the planet likely depends on Gen Z’s rejection of corporate-sponsored Democratic candidates. Which will they choose?