Democrat Party Weaknesses Revealed Amid Ongoing Govt. Shutdown
A new op-ed warns that Democrats are heading toward disaster in next year’s midterm elections, as internal divisions, far-left ideology, and economic missteps continue to fracture the party’s base.
Writing in The Hill, conservative commentator and former Wall Street executive Liz Peek laid the blame for the current government shutdown directly on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, arguing that his political maneuvering “highlights three weaknesses undermining the Democratic Party as we head toward next year’s midterm elections.”
Peek points to Schumer’s refusal last week to provide enough votes to keep the government funded at current levels, a move she says was driven more by fear of the progressive left than by sound policy judgment.
According to Peek, Schumer’s leadership struggles reflect the larger identity crisis facing Democrats.
“Democratic Party leadership continues to face pressure from its progressive wing,” Peek wrote, noting that Schumer is reportedly wary of a potential primary challenge from New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — a fear that could be influencing his increasingly hardline positions.
Peek also credits President Donald J. Trump for reshaping the political landscape and forcing Democrats further left.
“Second, President Trump has pushed Democrats to burrow into their far-left rabbit holes by occupying the all-powerful center,” she observed. “Third, Democrats are pushing endlessly to spend more money; voters think that’s a mistake.”
Internal Tensions and Progressive Pressure
Schumer has faced intense backlash from within his own ranks after working with Republicans earlier this year to avert a prior government shutdown. Many progressives viewed that deal as a betrayal, and calls for Ocasio-Cortez to challenge him in 2028 have only grown louder since.
Polling from the left-leaning firm Data for Progress found that Schumer’s favorability has plunged among New York Democrats — with the senator trailing Ocasio-Cortez by 19 points in a hypothetical primary matchup.
“Once known for his opposition to government shutdowns, Schumer now appears to be taking a more hardline stance,” Peek noted, adding that the shift is “a reflection of his fear of losing control of his party.”
A Party Pulled Left — and Losing Ground
Schumer isn’t alone in feeling the heat. As former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy put it in an August interview on Fox News:
“The only Democrats out there that are resonating and getting money are the socialists.”
Peek argues McCarthy is right — the Democratic Party’s energy, funding, and momentum now rest squarely with progressives, whose policies may excite activists but alienate middle America.
That dynamic is already playing out in Minneapolis, where democratic socialist Omar Fateh is challenging incumbent Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey. In a stinging rebuke, Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party rescinded its endorsement of Fateh — signaling widening cracks within the party.
Meanwhile, in New York City, democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani is leading the race for mayor, buoyed by left-wing megadonors including Elizabeth Simons and groups linked to billionaire George Soros.
Mamdani’s campaign, Peek noted, is built on “unrealistic promises to make life more affordable” and outspoken opposition to Israel — positions that have made him a darling of progressives but a liability with moderates.
Peek concludes that the Democrats’ lurch to the left may thrill billionaire donors and urban activists, but it is out of step with mainstream America.
“Democrats’ leftward lunge may have endeared the party to progressive billionaires, but it’s unlikely to improve the party’s image or win back the White House in 2028,” she wrote. “Progressives are notoriously anti-police and anti-ICE; they favor open borders and extending benefits to non-citizens. That is not where the country is.”
With moderates squeezed out and radicals on the rise, Peek warns that Democrats are losing the middle ground — the very space President Trump has successfully reclaimed.