Fox News personalities, including Laura Ingraham, have recently expressed concern about the sidelining of “moderate Democrats” within the party, particularly with Kamala Harris emerging as the Democratic presidential candidate. Names like Gretchen Whitmer, Sherrod Brown, Mark Kelly, and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro are often cited as examples of these moderates. But does this narrative stand up to scrutiny?
Ingraham and her colleagues sympathized with Florida Democratic donor John Morgan, who preferred other candidates over Harris, claiming that the Democratic Party had left behind its moderate base. However, a closer look at the policies of these purported moderates reveals their strong alignment with the party’s progressive shift.
Gretchen Whitmer, known for her robust support of feminist causes, abortion rights, and DEI initiatives, hardly fits the mold of a traditional moderate. The same can be said for Sherrod Brown, Mark Kelly, and Josh Shapiro, whose positions closely follow the progressive agenda.
Mark Kelly, representing Arizona, has occasionally criticized the Biden administration’s handling of the border crisis due to the direct impact on his state. However, this criticism seems more about local politics than a broader ideological stance. John Fetterman, another name mentioned, briefly criticized Biden’s immigration policies but remains a steadfast supporter of the administration and now backs Harris.
This nostalgic view of a moderate Democratic Party ignores the consistent leftward shift over the past decades. Figures like Whitmer and Shapiro are part of this evolution, even if they appear less extreme compared to the party’s progressive wing.
Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania is often labeled as a moderate due to his temporary support for school vouchers. However, this support was politically motivated rather than driven by moderate principles. On social issues such as unrestricted abortion and DEI, Shapiro’s positions align with those of progressive leaders like New York Governor Kathy Hochul and President Joe Biden.
The portrayal of Harris’s opponents as moderate traditional Democrats serves to contrast her perceived extremism with an idealized past. However, the reality is that figures like Shapiro and Whitmer are deeply entrenched in the progressive movement that has defined the Democratic Party in recent years. Their policies reflect a broad consensus within the party rather than a distinct moderate faction.
In conclusion, the idea of a disappearing moderate Democratic wing is largely mythical. The Democratic Party’s policies have steadily moved leftward, and the so-called moderates are no exception. Their alignment with progressive agendas challenges the notion of a significant ideological divide within the party.
