A significant number of incumbent Democrats are gearing up for tough primary battles as they prepare for the 2024 midterm elections. At least a dozen members of the US House are facing challenges from progressives who seek to reshape the party by addressing voter frustrations with its leadership. This current wave of intraparty competition is shifting away from traditional policy debates, focusing instead on the need for new energy and styles of leadership.
Progressive challengers, supported by organizations like the Justice Democrats and former Democratic National Committee vice chair David Hogg‘s Leaders We Deserve, argue that the party must replace incumbents in safe districts with candidates capable of better responding to the opposition led by former President Donald Trump. Some party members caution that such efforts could detract from the overarching goal of defeating Republicans in the upcoming elections.
Liam Kerr, co-founder of Welcome PAC, stated, “Progressives do the hard work of organizing,” indicating that centrists in the party often engage in sporadic support for candidates in more challenging districts. The Democrats need to secure a net gain of four seats to regain control of the Senate next year, with contested races occurring in key states like Georgia, where Senator Jon Ossoff is seeking reelection in a state Trump won in the last election.
Primary Battles Heat Up
In the House, significant primary contests are taking shape, particularly against Republican incumbents like David Valadao from California and Don Bacon from Nebraska, who is retiring. The divide between progressives and moderates is evident in these races, as candidates argue over the best strategies to attract disenchanted voters.
In Memphis, the Justice Democrats have endorsed Justin Pearson, a state representative who gained national attention after leading a gun control protest. Pearson is challenging long-serving Representative Steve Cohen, who has been in office for ten terms. Pearson emphasized the need for new leadership, stating, “It is impossible that the same people who have been in power for 30 or 40 years are going to be the ones who help to change the trajectory of our nation for the next 30 or 40.”
Cohen, aged 76, defended his lengthy record in office, asserting that younger candidates do not possess a monopoly on innovative ideas. He highlighted his legislative achievements, including support for Medicare for All and raising the minimum wage. Cohen questioned the effectiveness of the challengers’ tactics, asking, “What would you do? Go down to the White House and handcuff yourself to the fence?”
Pearson responded that voters desire active leadership, asserting, “We need active leadership, not just passive, bare minimum, bare-bones work from my opponent.”
Funding and Generational Dynamics
Age is one factor influencing several races, but the funding of campaigns is also a crucial issue. Nida Allam, a 31-year-old Durham County commissioner, is challenging two-term incumbent Valerie Foushee in North Carolina. Allam noted the generational differences in campaign backing, referencing her previous loss in the 2022 primary, where Foushee received support from pro-Israel groups like AIPAC. Foushee stated she would not accept donations from AIPAC this election cycle and emphasized her commitment to progressive values and tangible results.
In some cases, factions within the Democratic Party have united behind a single candidate. Bernie Sanders, Welcome PAC, and the moderate Blue Dog coalition have all endorsed Rebecca Cooke, who narrowly lost her bid to unseat Republican Derrick Van Orden in 2024. Cooke attributed her broad support to her focus on economic policies that resonate with voters, particularly regarding Trump’s trade policies affecting rural communities.
With the absence of a protracted primary this time, Cooke believes, “We have the runway, I think, to build the type of campaign that really reaches people.”
As the midterms draw closer, the outcome of these primary challenges will significantly influence the Democratic Party’s strategy and its ability to regain control of Congress.
