Democratic anger at their own party fuels 2026 primaries

“We need new leaders,” she said in her launch video. “Because the same people in D.C. who got us into this mess are not going to be the ones to get us out of it.”

Whether she intended it or not, the 39-year-old McMorrow started a trend of Democratic outsiders end-running party leaders to launch their campaigns, sometimes in explicit opposition to them. The movement is fueled by a crisis of confidence among Democratic voters in their own party, which is giving encouragement to the types of nontraditional candidates who have been walloped by leadership-aligned rivals in the past.

Altogether, ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, the moves have created a number of crowded and competitive-looking Democratic Senate primaries — contests that have often seen party leaders leap in to anoint favorites in recent years.

The DSCC has not endorsed in any competitive Senate primaries so far, though Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., who chairs the committee, has not ruled out doing so.

Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who serves as a DSCC vice chair, said the committee would only intervene in primaries if it was necessary to stop a politically toxic candidate.

Even as the DSCC remains officially neutral, it is not uncommon for leaders to work behind the scenes to steer donors and party support to preferred candidates in an effort to head off contested primaries in key races. That strategy is facing new headwinds.

McMorrow has said she won’t vote to re-elect Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., as the Democratic leader.

Another Democratic strategist advising Senate candidates said that the 2026 primaries will boil down to three questions: “Are you cool? Can you fight? Can you inspire people?”

The Democratic strategist, added that party elites lost credibility with their base after the events of 2024.

“Democrats saw their party leaders telling them in 2024: ‘Biden’s gonna win; Trump’s a fascist; Don’t worry, we got this,’” the strategist said.

Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who was first elected in 2018, said she sees echoes of that environment in primaries across the country, including Zohran Mamdani's mayoral primary win in her city.

“There are definitely elements to this moment that remind me of the conditions that existed in the country — and the general sentiment and mood — when I was elected,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “These are conditions that an outside candidacy could have the most momentum.”

“Where the electorate is is that they want to support Democrats who are bold, who are standing up, who are fighting against the administration,” she added. “I don’t think the general electorate is looking for permission from elected leaders to vote for someone or not.”

Some Democratic operatives noted that the numerous Senate primaries may be a product of the broader political environment.

“You can have the absolutely most respected leadership and the national leadership could be held in super high regard, and it is still hard to stop people from running for office under those kinds of political circumstances,” one Democratic strategist said, noting the wave of candidates who leapt into congressional races in response to Trump's previous election win.

And Democrats broadly do not view these primaries as problematic.

Democrats are optimistic that they can make a real run for the Senate majority, despite their competitive primaries. Indeed, some in the party say leaders should welcome primaries at a time when the Democrats are in the “wilderness” and voters are hungry for a change.

“People are mad we lost the last election, people are frustrated with the party’s response,” said veteran Democratic strategist Mike Nellis, who is working with McMorrow's campaign. “Fairly or unfairly, the establishment is the least popular it’s been in my career — two decades.”

“To me, primaries are good … We should stop being afraid of a little bit of Democratic infighting,” Nellis said. “Democrats are going to have to figure out who we are and what we stand for.”

[quote] “To me, primaries are good … We should stop being afraid of a little bit of Democratic infighting,” Nellis said. “Democrats are going to have to figure out who we are and what we stand for.”

Absolutely!

I love this statement.

Primaries are like a "refining process," weeding out the crappy candidates and keeping the good ones.

2008 was a perfect example of that.

2024 was also a perfect example of why we NEED primaries, even with an incumbent President.

I think this is good. I certainly plan on voting against my incumbent. She’s over 80 and has done zero to stop fascism. She’s a nice little old lady, but our democracy will be gone by the time she gets off the couch. She’s got four challengers in the primary so far! She has historically run opposed.

Chucky Cheese Schumer is the poster boy for Term Limits. Time to retire, go back to Brooklyn with wife and daughter, who has a wife.

McMorrow has the inside track. She's running against Haley "Creepy Dollface" Stevens (the establishment choice) and Abdul El-Sayed (the Bernie acolyte whose chance of winning is about as strong as his chance of getting through TSA without a "random" check"). McMorrow has the passion and the charisma to do it right.

I find it so odd that in all of this discussion about Democratic anger, and party upheaval, and the Harris revelations, our newly elected DNC Chair Ken Martin is absolutely fucking silent.

I haven't heard a PEEP out of this asshole, since he was elected.

So speeches, no strategy, no fight.

The only fight he put up, was when he worked to get his Vice-Chair David Hogg removed from his position.

That's all he's good for. Working against other Democrats.

Does anyone even know what he looks like?? Here's a reminder.

Will Rogers Quotes: I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat.

Schumer and Jeffries need to be removed. Hopefully, newer members will overthrow them.

Schumer looks increasingly senile.

I'm afraid the Senate Dems and House Dems have no one next in line who could do the job any better. Congressional leadership has three main jobs: 1) Run the caucus, meaning holding people together by hook or by crook; 2) Set the agenda and fight for it publicly, by being a national face for your party and its values; and 3) Fundraising and donor relations, so you can collect checks and soothe egos enough to keep more checks coming. Very few leaders are equally good at all three of these. Nancy Pelosi was, but her day is done.

Next in line for Senate leadership would probably be Klobuchar (who can yell and fight, but can't really organize the group) or Schatz (who can whip the group but can't fundraise or become a national name). Cory Booker very much WANTS to be Leader, but he'd suck at it all around. The most likely scenario here is a pairing of one mouthpiece as leader (Klobuchar or Booker), and one insider as whip (Schatz, Warner, or Baldwin) to keep the troops in line.

The House is even worse. Jeffries is deep in the shadow of Pelosi and Hoyer, and he flounders at all three jobs. Of course nobody's voting for them or cutting checks anymore. Why should they, when this guy is their messenger? Behind Jeffries is a clutch of very similar tubs of vanilla pudding. Katherine Clark, Pete Aguilar, Joe Neguse, and others like him. The House Democrats have no shortage of loudmouthed assholes who are good on cable news and good at fundraising, but most of those same people make lousy group leaders. They're out for their own values, and not the group's. The job of a House Minority Leader is to become Speaker, and he or she does that by building a majority that Americans will vote for and give money to elect. It's a very hard job, and no one in House leadership is poised to be any good at it right now.

If Jeffries gets a majority next year, it'll be by the skin of his droopy eyelids, and he won't be able to keep it glued together in wars with Trump and Thune. He's not a fighter and he doesn't inspire people. He doesn't seem to have strong values in any direction. And he has neither the face nor the energy to become a household name.

We need more of this!

If Schumer and Jeffries are too chickenshit to take on Republicans, then we need new Democrats who aren't afraid to do it:

[quote] House Democrat introduces articles of impeachment against RFK Jr.

[italic]Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) announced Thursday she would introduce articles of impeachment against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. due to “health care chaos” under his watch.

On social platform X, Stevens wrote, “Health care chaos. Reckless cuts. Rising costs. Michiganders and families across the country are paying the price for RFK Jr.’s agenda. Enough is enough, which is why I’m drafting articles of impeachment against @SecKennedy.”

Stevens has repeatedly called for Kennedy’s removal from his role since he became health secretary.

She called for Kennedy to resign earlier this month, citing the slashing of medical research for pediatric cancer and vaccines.

“Michiganders are tired of politicians who chase attention and ignore real problems. I’ve seen enough chaos from this administration and from Secretary Kennedy,” Stevens said in a statement Sept. 15.

“He’s making Michiganders unhealthy and unsafe. He needs to resign now. It’s time for leaders who fight for science, for health, and for the people, not those who undermine the progress our families and researchers work so hard to achieve.”

The move to impeach Kennedy comes amid federal health policies and recommendations that major medical organizations have spoken out against, including recommendations to alter childhood vaccination schedules and President Trump telling pregnant women not to take Tylenol.

Republican senators are growing increasingly uncomfortable with health actions being taken by the Trump administration, with one lawmaker telling The Hill this week that Republicans are “starting to break ranks” over it.[/italic]

R7, that’s an outdated corny quote. You might as well quote FDR’s, “You have nothing to fear but fear itself.” Graduate to the 21st century already.

R8, those new members with be The Squad 2.0. Good luck.

[quote] [R7], that’s an outdated corny quote. You might as well quote FDR’s, “You have nothing to fear but fear itself.” Graduate to the 21st century already.

Oh lighten up R12, just because it is an old quote which I attributed to the author, doesn't mean it isn't still true today.

R12 you want a quote from the 21 century?

PUMA - Party Unity My Ass

same thing

R11 Haley Stevens just wants to save her floundering Senate campaign.

The Democratic Party has no plan, blaming Trump for everything is wearing thin. In New Jersey, Mikie Sherill running on Democratic ticket for governor, has "We Hate Trump" campaign.

Two Democratic mayors have endorsed Republcan candidate, Jack Citarelli.

After 12 years of Democratic governors in charge, with the state going down the tubes, the public is willing to risk a change.

Americans want Trump and want fascism. It’s as simple as that. They think the country is out of control and want someone to bring the hammer down. There’s no alternative Democrats can present that Americans want. Their only chance is an economic catastrophe.

No, that’s what Trump supporters want, which is a smaller number than it was a year ago. But a Democrat who can come in with a clear sense of purpose and direction could easily flip the script.

un huh

The current leadership has had over 10 years to stop Trump and they have not. The old ways don't work anymore and they leadership does not want to admit the the Neo-liberalism and Fascism loop we are in. They insist on Roberts Rules of Order when the other side just fires a gun like Indy in the Ark of Covenant.

Right now, we need to rally behind Comey, even pay Hillary whatever she wants to come out in his favor. No president should go after his personal bête noirs. We need to be screaming constantly about that Military meeting until it devolves into a big boondoggle. We need to blackmail Supreme Court justices. I realize some are compromised by the other side--let those sweat. We need someone, here or abroad, to leak the Epstein files.

R12, what's wrong with FDR’s, “You have nothing to fear but fear itself”? It was a great statement by an inspiring President who went on to become the longest-serving President in history.

R3 - You must be talking about Doris Matsui. I've wondered forever when TF she's going to step down. I've voted for her since her second term when I came back to live here, but don't plan to continue.

One of the issues is she's the widow of a beloved community figure, Bob Matsui, who held the seat before her. The Sacramento Federal building is named after him. I don't think anybody dared say anything to her. Just as probably nobody's said anything to Nancy.

I've noticed anti-Matsui stickers on some traffic light poles during my walks. I'll take one and post when I take my morning walk today.

[quote] I don't think anybody dared say anything to her. Just as probably nobody's said anything to Nancy.

R23, It is funny how some people's memories fade, I distinctly remember many calls for Nancy to step down over the years from other Democrats, I even remember many calls on DL for her to step down prior to Trump getting elected, this CNN article is from 2017 and I don't even live in California like you do.

Having been involved in NJ politics for much of my life, voters differentiate between federal and state issues. Anti-Trump sentiment would not necessarily resonate against the R candidate. Moreover, there's not a lot of "damage" he could achieve against a solidly Democratic legislature.

My $.02 is that her best bet for a rescue would be to espouse State issues, and target Dem turnout.

Let's not forget, most of the cuts of the "Big Beautiful Bill" won't hit until after the midterms. MAGA will think everything is fine. The Medicaid cuts, especially the phony disability cuts which are MAGA male welfare, won't hit until 2027. They'll stagger them so whites are last if at all.

FBI now admits they had 273 undercovers in the crowd on the January 6th.

Idiot at r27. Dare to be TRUTHFUL,if you have it in you.

R37, what a simp. Just the slightest bit of research reveals both the falsehood of your claim and its source.

^ for r27, who should not pull shit like this around here