Project 2029 Begins by Pushing Hard Left in 2026
Another episode in the series on Project 2029. This one about the prequel in which we can set the table by electing officials that will push hard left in 2026.
This post is also available on the companion podcast. LINKS HERE
Opportunity is knocking on our door in the form of next year’s spring and fall elections. Both will be complete in less than 365 days. Together, they could drastically shift the tide against the Trump administration’s goals for the remainder of his term and set the stage for bigger progressive victories in 2028.
We’ve got all of 2027 and 2028 to plan. Real change we can make next year. We will win big, I have no doubt.
Midterms are notoriously bad for the party holding the Presidency. One thing everyone agrees on is that our government sucks. Whoever has the power is officially “the man”. Controlling, out of touch, and favoring the rich over everyone else. All the problems in the government are the fault of the party in power.
People opposed to the party in power have extra motivation in the form of fear and anger. People who identify with the party in power are disillusioned that their problems aren’t being solved, and are likely distancing themselves from the toxicity of politics.
The economy is absolute trash and unlikely to improve in the coming year. Immigration was a relatively bright spot for Trump’s regime. Their overzealous enforcement tactics aren’t even popular with Republican voters. Refusal to follow through on the release of unredacted Epstein files and more. Everywhere you turn, Trump is burning all bridges. Now that he is a lame duck, the only thing that still matters is extracting as much personal profit as he can through his position of privilege and paying back the people in power who gave him the job.
Make It Count
With a high chance of victory on the horizon, the most critical item is candidate selection. To be clear, that is self-selection. We can’t elect bold progressives if none of them run.
Revolutionaries do not make revolutions. The revolutionaries are those who know when power is lying in the street and when they can pick it up.
~ Hannah Arendt
MAGA is signing the death warrant for the Republican Party. Democrats are poised to regain power, but the brand is still on life support. There is power lying in the streets, in the offices up for election, and especially within the Democratic Party. The opening is our primary system. It’s time for everyone to push hard left in the primaries.
We need revolutionaries. Bold progressives ready to stand up for our values. Some Democrats need to be primaried, refer to the cave on the CR. All should face opposition.
The Fight Club forming in the Senate agrees. In defiance of Tyler Durden’s first two rules, this group of Democratic Senators isn’t afraid to talk about their goals. As a coalition, they are pushing the party establishment to embrace bold candidates willing to push and hold the line on the progressive end of the spectrum. Led by Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, they’ve got experience and a track record of strong progressive advocacy.
The GOP seized the moment in 2010. They found motivation in fear of a black President delivering health care. The deep pockets of the Koch brothers amplified that push, limiting the Obama administration’s options and reshaping state governments in places like Wisconsin. While their jump to the right was a disaster, it is illustrative in that it was highly effective and long-lasting. It pulled the whole party right with enough momentum that it continues to shift that way today.
Look at the continued broad support for Bernie Sanders. Not a Democrat, yet he was a serious contender for the nomination in 2016. To this day, many wish he would run. Look at the backlash against Trump in 2018 and the birth of the squad. Look at Mamdani. Now is not the time to listen to those who say we need to play it safe. Fortune favors the bold.
For Those About to Run (We Salute You)
A few pieces of advice for our candidates.
First, don’t get sucked into stupid narratives. When people mention socialism or communism, they talk about actual policy. Study those who traveled this path before. Don’t let your opponent make the narrative about a word they want people to fear. People don’t care. They want progressive policy that will make a difference in the real world. Speak that language, voters will listen. They won’t care about people throwing around words that don’t impact the price of food, healthcare, or shelter.
Second, it’s not enough to run against the horror that is the GOP. Focus on policies that help people. The fact that you are anti-MAGA will be evident. There is utility in identifying an enemy, but make it a real one and provide real solutions. The enemy is unaffordable healthcare, and the solution is single-payer healthcare. The enemy is an unaccountable government for sale to the highest bidder, and part of the answer is to implement FairVote’s proposed legislation on ranked choice voting and proportional representation.
What You Can Do
Run for Something. It’s a plea, and it’s also an organization that will help you do it. There are many others; if you seek help, you will find it.
Seek out and support progressive candidates. Encourage them to run. Then help them.
Spread awareness of issues and candidates.
Vote, and get your peers to vote.
Now imagine this is a sports draft. We are on the clock. It’s ticking. We are going to get the player we pick. We need to focus on selecting the right player for our team. Choose wisely.