Collin Rijock

Essay

Democrats in the Seventh Party System

2016 was an odd year, many look back with rose-tinted glasses as the last time America collectively had a good year. In the scope of politics, its arguably the most consequential in decades. Wether you think were in the seventh party system or not, a lot changed in 2016. Trump invoked a new form of right wing American populism, Bernie did the same for the left. Many Americans were disgruntled with the status quo, the stagnant wages leading to wealth gaps, and the forgotten rust belt towns saw a promise of change coming from Trump. A political outsider blah blah. What concerns this essay about 2016 is actually the primary for the Democrats. Bernie vs Hillary has cut very deep since then. Think of the two of them representing the Leftist and the Centrist arms of the party, a rift which has ruled Democrat discourse and ideology for the last 10 years. Think about the soft criticism and noticeable silence the DNC and senior party members have for AOC and Mamdani. The outcry of the youth when a new centrist Democrat receives AIPAC money. Besides Trump its been most of whats spoken of, save for abortion when Roe v Wade was overturned. Thats exactly the change thats in motion. "Besides Trump". Its obvious that Trump rules not only the news cycle, but the collective consciousness. I mean how could he not when hes all over social media. and the first year of Trump's presidency has felt more like 10. This is the shift in the party, and its why Gavin Newsom is likely to be the next Dem candidate, and probably President. Most Democrats are uniting and also voting for candidates willing to fight for their ideology, and not compromise with Trump. They think hes getting away with too much and needs pushback. Newsom is not only doing this with say Prop 50, his rhetoric on social media, and his appearance in Davos. Hes capturing the left and the center in a way we havent seen in a while. Whoever can change the zeitgeist from how left / center are you, to how much did you fight to stop Trump, will be our next President.