In this opinion piece by John Burn-Murdoch he covers how the left has shifted dramatically and pushed out moderate voters.
Article here: https://www.ft.com/content/73a1836d-0faa-4c84-b973-554e2ca3a227
In an insightful take on the shifting political landscape, recent analysis points to the Democratic Party’s leftward drift as a significant factor in the 2022 U.S. election outcomes. Elon Musk’s tweet of a cartoon by evolutionary biologist Colin Wright illustrated this shift, showing how centrists like Wright found themselves politically homeless as the left moved further from the center. Data from the election indicates a loss of support among moderates for Democrats, while their progressive base remained loyal. This shift was not just about policy but also rhetoric; for instance, the term “Latinx,” embraced by some progressives, was met with resistance from many Hispanic Americans, potentially influencing their vote. This suggests a disconnect between the Democratic Party’s evolving identity and the preferences of the median voter, particularly on social issues.
Political scientists have noted that this leftward shift began around 2016, possibly as a reaction to Trump’s presidency, rather than a consistent progressive march forward. The Democratic Party, traditionally seen as the advocate for the working class and the poor, has increasingly been perceived as focusing more on minority advocacy, which has altered voter perceptions and allegiances. This change has been accompanied by a rhetoric shift from addressing economic inequalities to cultural and social issues, leading to a racial realignment where minority voters like Black and Hispanic conservatives are aligning more with their social values than economic ones. This evolution underscores a broader narrative where the Democratic Party might be alienating the very constituencies it aims to represent by moving too far from the center.