ABSTRACT

A Democratic primary season marked by wins and losses for both progressive and centrist candidates has widened divisions within the party as it heads toward midterm elections in which control of Congress is at stake, with the 2028 presidential race also cited as a longer-term consideration.

CBC News

Democratic primaries deepen rift between progressive and centrist wings ahead of midterms

Aug 13, 2026, 4:00 AM

Context

In Wisconsin on Tuesday, moderate David Crowley narrowly won the Democratic gubernatorial primary over self-described Democratic Socialist Francesca Hong, who had been projected to win in polls. Hong's campaign was dogged in its final days by past social-media comments in which she had advocated defunding the police, abolishing ICE, and called for canceling Thanksgiving, describing it as a celebration of colonialism. During the campaign she backed away from all three positions, saying her views had evolved. Hong did not receive endorsements from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez or Sen. Bernie Sanders.

In Michigan earlier this month, progressive Abdul El-Sayed narrowly defeated centrist Haley Stevens in the Democratic Senate primary despite more than $60 million being spent on Stevens's behalf, largely from super PACs. El-Sayed campaigned alongside Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders and ran on issues including Medicare for All, removing money from politics, taxing billionaire wealth, and ending military aid to Israel. Moderates also held off progressive challengers in races in Washington state and Missouri.

In Maine, progressive Graham Platner won his primary before dropping out following sexual assault allegations. Progressive candidates also won primaries in New York and Colorado, in contests against more moderate Democrats.

Third Way, described in the source as a leading centrist Democratic group, said it is spending $15 million between now and 2028 to discredit Democratic Socialism. Centrist critics pointed to Washington Post data showing El-Sayed performed best in Michigan's most educated counties and college towns while his opponent did better in rural and lower-income areas.

All Perspectives

Hans Noel, Georgetown University: Noel, an associate professor of Government at Georgetown University and co-director of the Georgetown Democracy Initiative, said he does not know how to determine which group has the most appeal. He noted that while progressive candidates may alienate some voters who otherwise might have voted Democrat, they will also bring new voters to the party, including those who may not have voted at all. He added that intangible characteristics such as personal likeability make strong predictions difficult: 'How do you add that all up and make a strong prediction? It's hard.'

Bhaskar Sunkara, The Nation: Sunkara, president of left-leaning magazine The Nation and former vice chair of the Democratic Socialists of America, called El-Sayed's win and others like it a 'huge check' on the Democratic Party, saying voters — particularly young voters — 'are really discontent with the leadership of the party … and just generally feel that the Democratic Party doesn't stand for anything. It's not combative enough.' He also argued El-Sayed is a stronger candidate than Hong with working-class voters, saying: 'I think there is a way in which some candidates have been tarred with stances they had in 2019, 2020. This sort of abolish the police, the discussion of whiteness or whatever else. Abdul never had that problem.'

Fareed Zakaria, CNN GPS: Zakaria, host of CNN's GPS, cited Washington Post data to highlight that El-Sayed drew support from Michigan's most educated counties and college towns while his opponent performed better in rural and lower-income areas. 'The left has the passion, but the middle still has the votes needed to win in general elections,' he said.

Kate de Gruyter, Third Way: De Gruyter, vice-president of communications at Third Way, argued that progressives have never demonstrated the ability to persuade the middle voters they need in November: 'Their theory of the case is that they're somehow going to be able to persuade all these voters in the middle that they absolutely need to win in November to back their candidate. We've never seen that happen over the entirety of the Trump era.' She cited El-Sayed's decision to campaign with left-wing streamer Hasan Piker as one example of 'a whole universe of things that Republican ad makers are salivating at,' and suggested Democrat Kamala Harris lost the 2024 presidential election because she was seen as too lax on immigration and was burdened by past stances on transgender policy.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: Ocasio-Cortez, when asked about her past support for defunding the police, said: 'I have a local city councilman that has this saying: "Woke 1 was crazy",' before laughing, in comments that drew news coverage.

Abdul El-Sayed: El-Sayed, responding to U.S. President Donald Trump calling him 'full of shit,' said: 'At least I don't let mine go all over the Oval Office.'

Position not represented in the source reporting: Haley Stevens — her campaign's response to the primary result is not quoted or paraphrased; Francesca Hong — her response to the primary loss is not quoted or paraphrased.

Gaps & Unknowns

The source text appears truncated; the final paragraph breaks off mid-sentence and some material may be missing.
The source does not state the vote-margin figures for the Wisconsin gubernatorial primary between Crowley and Hong.
The source does not state the vote-margin figures for the Michigan Senate primary between El-Sayed and Stevens.
The source does not identify the specific super PACs that spent on behalf of Haley Stevens.
The source does not state what sexual assault allegations were made against Graham Platner or their current status.
The source does not provide centrist or moderate candidates' direct responses to the progressive critiques of their strategy.
The source does not specify which races in New York and Colorado are referenced as progressive primary wins.

Sources & Further Reading

CBC News — original

Read the original at CBC News

Related Coverage