Opinion Piece: Democrats' Latest Selection Misses the Moment
Why symbolic progressivism may cost Democrats the middle ground they need to win...
Today, Democrats introduced Rep. Robert Garcia as a new front-facing figure—an announcement that, at first glance, suggests a tone-deafness from the party.
Looking at recent primary results, it's clear that voters are not gravitating toward the fringes. If Democrats want any shot at winning anything in the next 2 to 4 years, they need to pull toward the center. Instead, their choices are being interpreted—fairly or not—as symbolic gestures that ignore the current cultural and electoral mood.
Robert Garcia, by virtue of his surname alone, is bound to evoke identity-based reactions. And in the current climate, where coded language and veiled bigotry are rampant, even his name becomes politicized. Recall how JD Vance deliberately called Alex Padilla “José,” which could be considered a low-key racial slur.
Let’s be honest: America is still grappling with its discomfort around race, especially when it intersects with power. The same country that recoiled from the idea of a woman …