Progressive wing is powerful group in the Democratic Party: Byron York
Byron York, Chief Political Correspondent for the Washington Examiner, stated that the progressive wing is currently the moast influential faction within the democratic Party. He highlighted figures such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-cortez,Sen. Bernie Sanders, and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani as key leaders. Mamdani, a democratic socialist who recently won the New york City mayoral race with strong support from voters under 30, symbolizes youthful energy and a shift away from the older Democratic establishment represented by leaders like nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer.
York noted that mamdani’s victory has already drawn criticism from Republicans, who plan to target him in upcoming elections as part of their messaging strategy for the 2026 midterms. Though, York expressed skepticism about Mamdani’s ability to play a national leadership role comparable to Pelosi’s, especially in terms of fundraising and influence over party policy. york emphasized the growing prominence of the progressive wing as it reshapes the democratic Party’s leadership and direction.
Byron York says the progressive wing is the most powerful group in the Democratic Party
Washington Examiner Chief Political Correspondent Byron York said the most powerful section of the Democratic Party is the progressives, highlighting Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
“Obviously, the most powerful part of the Democratic Party now is the progressive wing, which until a couple of weeks ago was the AOC-Bernie wing; now it’s the AOC, Bernie, [Zohran] Mamdani wing,” York said on Fox News’s Hannity.
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a democratic-socialist, won the New York City Mayoral race and received 50.4% of the vote, beating independent and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Silwa.
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Republicans were quick to capitalize on Mamdani’s win, with numerous members of Congress sending out emails tying the Democratic Socialist to leaders in the Democratic Party. This provides an early indication of the Republicans’ messaging strategy going into the 2026 midterm elections.
York said Mamdani is going to be a target for “every single Republican” who is running for office near New York City.
“One of the reasons, by the way, that he is taking this leadership role is because … Nancy Pelosi, and Chuck Schumer, and the legacy of Joe Biden, and a number of other really old Democratic lawmakers that the sense the party had become a gerontocracy,” York said.
“And one thing that Mamdani does really represent is youthful energy,” York added.
Mamdani drew strong support from voters under 30 years old, with 78% of them voting for him, according to the Fox News Voter Poll.
York said he does not think Mamdani will bring in the same money into the Democratic Party, when asked if Mamdani will be the new “cash cow” following Pelosi’s retirement announcement.
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“Nancy Pelosi just really was a huge leader in Washington, leading the whole party in Washington at times, responsible for things like Obamacare, which dominated the policy landscape for a decade now,” York said.
“I don’t see [Mamdani] playing that big of a role,” York added.
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