A group of roughly 13 Democrats have signed a pledge to promote moderate policies within the party — acting as a rebuke to the party’s progressive wing seeking to oust more centrist members.
Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., is among those leading the charge after he introduced the pledge at the center-left conference WelcomeFest earlier this month. The pledge directly embraces capitalism while opposing socialist policies and also touts policies such as secure borders, free speech, and “confident patriotism.”
“You know there are certain things that I believe in that are not being reflected in the current environment, especially with some of these races on Tuesday,” Suozzi said on Fox News, referring to two New York primaries in which Democratic incumbents were defeated by progressive challengers.
“We’re proud of America, not ashamed of America — and we need to be promoting those things,” he said. “The far left and the far right, you know, they’re all very well organized. But those of us that don’t support those far-left or far-right principles need to do a better job organizing and getting our message out.”
The pledge comes as Democrats search for a central identity to embrace heading into the November midterm elections, during which control of Congress will be up for grabs.
Democrats such as Suozzi who flipped Republican-held seats in the 2024 election appear to be tamping down efforts from other members of the party, such as Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who are embracing more progressive candidates.
Mamdani endorsed the two progressive candidates who unseated Reps. Dan Goldman and Adriano Espaillat in New York on Tuesday, defeating the incumbents whom House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has supported.
“I don’t think we’re on opposite pages,” Jeffries said of his and Mamdani’s diverging endorsements. “We have agreed to strongly disagree, and we put it into the hands of the people of New York.”
Republicans have seized on those primary wins to paint their Democratic challengers as “socialists” and “communists,” hoping they can use that messaging to their advantage as they look to defend their majorities in November.
But the pledge being pushed by Suozzi and others highlights policies that are backed by both parties, such as securing the border, ensuring public safety, and being “proud, not ashamed of America.” That last point has often been used as a messaging point from Republicans to accuse Democrats of hating the country.
Although only a dozen House Democrats have signed the pledge so far, it could pick up steam as the party heads into the November elections — potentially forcing Democratic leaders to embrace moderate policies or welcome more progressive voices into the fold.