For the first time in twenty years, the Democratic party lacks a clear contender for its presidential nomination, following the problematic candidacies of Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden. Kamala Harris’s nomination marks a departure from a history of predecessors' strong backing, leaving a vacuum in leadership. Although many Democrats are dismayed by internal disarray and external threats from Trump, the emergence of a competitive 'shadow primary' may invigorate the party, prompting necessary ideological debates and potentially leading to a stronger candidate for future elections.
Three straight election cycles produced three flawed nominees who were firmly backed by their predecessors. Hillary Clinton was Barack Obama's preferred successor... Kamala Harris became the first Democratic nominee in more than a half-century to achieve that status without winning a vote in any of the primaries.
The party is bereft of a single leader and seems adrift, struggling to respond to Trump’s assaults on the federal bureaucracy and the civil rights of legal residents. The party itself, in most polling, is widely unpopular... Many Democrats wanted Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, to refuse to help Republicans keep the government open.
But the state of play isn't as grim as it looks. The shadow primary underway for 2028 is exactly what Democrats need: a robust contest over ideology and ideas that will be waged in the public square. The best Democrat will win.
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