Three Democrats breaking form
A governor, Bay area congressman and battleground senator walk into the wilderness.
The wilderness is cold because it always starts in winter after the fall of a party in an autumnal election. Temperatures in Washington have plummeted into the teens this week and yet the final days of Joe Biden’s presidency features a nation on fire. Literally. Well, more precisely a city inside a state … run of course, by Democrats, who are currently struggling to display competence or inspire confidence at any level of government. In California, Karen Bass’ mayoral career has been summarily rendered extinguished and the wildfire maelstrom could, theoretically, threaten Democrats’ hold on the governorship in 2026. It’s theatrical that one of Biden’s final acts of significance will be to declare a disaster emergency for an iconic liberal city ablaze as it braces for another Trump presidency. It’s downright cinematic that following his departure from the White House on Monday, Biden will decamp to central California, embers flickering in the background as the credits roll on his presidency. But at least his advanced age and declining cognitive state will largely absolve him from partaking in the Democratic Party reckoning to come. It’s those who want a shot at the future who must trudge through the muck that is the political wilderness and emerge with an epiphany of sorts. Metaphorically, the wilderness is an isolated place reserved for introspection and rediscovery. Realistically, the reflection, rethinking and rebirth of a political identity must be an intentionally public act. The re-direction of the Democratic Party won’t be forged in January 2025 and won’t be settled by a vote for the next Democratic National Committee chairman.
For now, the vacuum of power in Blue America allows any governor, congressman, senator, social media savvy upstart or wealthy showman to fill the void with attempts at a new way. And there’s one lesson that appears glaringly obvious from Kamala Harris’ loss: Careful, cautious and calculated won’t work. Ya might as well break form, especially in these early innings when despondent Democrats are just looking for something authentic to glean onto. In other words, it’s time to take some risks. Let the rebels run. As our incoming president prophetically says, “What the hell do you have to lose?” Here, I outline three Democrats who are embracing this ethos, albeit in different ways and to varying degrees. But they are the earliest examples of Democrats seeking a national platform in the rebuilding of their party while willing to color outside the lines.
Jared Polis, governor of Colorado: Polis, the first openly gay governor elected in the United States, isn’t interesting because of his sexuality but for his penchant for piercing party orthodoxy. He’s set off waves for his support for Robert F. Kennedy to lead the nation’s Health Department and his pointed criticism of President Biden for pardoning his son — both of which earned him good ole fashioned political pile-ons from progressive Twitter — embraced cost-cutting DOGE reforms championed by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy and even toyed with Donald Trump’s idea of Greenland joining the the greatest nation on earth. Instead of anti-Trump, he’s positing as Trump-curious and without the contempt. “Separate the personality out of it,” Polis says of the incoming 47th president. “What are we getting?” Now in the final two years of his second term, Polis will be exiting the governor’s mansion just when the 2028 presidential race