We are finally witnessing the decline of corporate Democrats | Robert Reich
Robert Reich argues that alongside the well-documented rise of progressive Democrats, US politics is witnessing an equally significant decline of corporate-aligned Democrats. He contends this shift is driven not by growing enthusiasm for socialism but by voters' recognition, sharpened under Donald Trump's presidency, that corporate America has prioritised enriching itself over addressing ordinary Americans' needs, prompting them to back candidates willing to challenge corporate and Wall Street power.
Reich cites recent primary results as evidence, including Angie Nixon's upset Senate primary win in Florida and Abdul El-Sayed's victory over Haley Stevens in Michigan, despite Stevens being heavily outspent in his favour by Super Pacs, including major backing from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. He pushes back against Democratic strategist James Carville's view that progressive primary challenges, such as Bernie Sanders' in 2016, fracture the party and helped elect Trump, arguing this analysis is outdated given how thoroughly Trump's administration has exposed corporate greed through practices like no-bid contracts, tax loopholes and tariff exemptions for favoured firms.
- Reich says corporate Democrats are declining as progressives win primaries.
- Voters want fighters against corporate power, not socialism, he argues.
- Cites Angie Nixon and Abdul El-Sayed primary wins as examples.
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Corporate Democrats are a loose term for centrist or business-friendly members of the Democratic Party, generally seen as more sympathetic to Wall Street and large donors than to progressive policies like stronger regulation of corporations. Robert Reich, a former US labour secretary and prominent progressive commentator, has long written about the tension between this wing of the party and its more left-leaning, progressive wing, which favours tougher action on corporate power and inequality.
This debate has resurfaced because of recent Democratic primary elections, where several progressive candidates beat rivals who had more establishment or corporate backing, including large sums from outside groups known as Super Pacs. These results have reignited a long-running argument within the party about whether championing progressive, anti-corporate positions helps or hurts Democrats' chances against Donald Trump and the Republicans.
The wider context is the Trump presidency itself, during which critics have pointed to instances of government contracts and tax or trade decisions benefiting favoured companies, fuelling debate over the influence of corporate interests in politics. This matters because it touches on how the Democratic Party positions itself heading into future elections, and on the broader question of how much influence corporations and wealthy donors should have over American politics.