A new wave of younger Democrats are making their voices heard within the party, and they are not planning to wait their turn. Frustrated with the slow pace of change and the status quo within the Democratic Party, these young activists and politicians are pushing for a more progressive agenda and are demanding a seat at the table.
One of the most notable examples of this shift is the rise of young politicians like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who at just 29 years old, shocked the political establishment by defeating a longtime incumbent in the Democratic primary for New York’s 14th congressional district. Ocasio-Cortez’s victory was seen as a watershed moment for young progressives, and she has quickly become a leading voice within the party, pushing for policies like Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, and criminal justice reform.
But Ocasio-Cortez is not alone in her efforts to shake up the Democratic Party. Young activists and organizers across the country are mobilizing to push the party to the left on a range of issues, from climate change to income inequality to racial justice. Groups like the Sunrise Movement, founded by young people in response to the lack of action on climate change, have been instrumental in pushing the party to take a more aggressive stance on environmental issues.
These young Democrats are not content to simply wait their turn and follow the established hierarchy within the party. They are demanding a seat at the table and are pushing for the party to adopt a more progressive platform that reflects the needs and concerns of young people, who will be the ones most affected by the decisions made today.
Of course, there are some within the party who are resistant to this change and who see the rise of young progressives as a threat to the status quo. But the energy and enthusiasm of these young activists and politicians cannot be ignored, and it is clear that they are here to stay.
As the Democratic Party looks ahead to the 2020 election and beyond, it will be crucial for party leaders to listen to the voices of these young activists and to embrace their vision for a more progressive future. The days of waiting your turn in politics may be over, as a new generation of Democrats are ready to lead and to bring about real change.