Deposing the Old Guard: Reckoning Time for the Democratic Party Establishment
By Michael Kelman Portney
For decades, the Democratic Party has positioned itself as the defender of progressive values, championing policy reforms and inclusion. But beneath the surface, we’re nearing a reckoning—one long overdue and one the party establishment seems hellbent on staving off. The old guard, steeped in the political wisdom of bygone eras, clings to strategies that no longer resonate with an increasingly diverse, connected, and assertive base. These party elders, fearful of losing their grip, will dig their heels in. For them, the well-worn playbook is safer than exploring new tactics that might jeopardize their hold on power.
But the truth is that these “tried and true” strategies have too often resulted in narrow victories, painful stagnation, or worse—outright defeat. While the electorate’s demographics shift, while younger generations demand real action on climate, economic justice, and systemic inequality, the party establishment seems more preoccupied with shielding the old house from the winds of change rather than tearing it down and building something better. These entrenched elites simply cannot envision a Democratic Party that embraces a bold new vision and fresh voices, because that would mean relinquishing their own influence.
This looming showdown will test both sides. On one hand, the younger cohort of progressive activists, first-time organizers, and newly mobilized voters seek a Democratic Party that’s not content to nibble around the edges of major issues. They want a party that is more than a mirror to the Republican narrative, but an engine of transformative social change—one that rethinks the very architecture of governance, representation, and political strategy. On the other hand, the guardians of the old order will attempt to maintain their veneer of moral authority. They’ll pull at heartstrings, arguing that unity matters above all, or that we must trust in their experience. They will claim that this is not the time for a grand upheaval but for patience and prudence. In doing so, they’ll try to paint their reluctance as “maturity” and their critics as reckless idealists.
But to accept the status quo out of fear is to accept an endless loop of half-measures, dwindling enthusiasm, and ultimate political failure. Those seeking to rebuild the Democratic Party from the ground up aren’t chasing dreams for the sake of dreams. They’re responding to economic precarity, violent climate breakdowns, and everyday injustices that our current crop of leaders either can’t—or won’t—address boldly.
To bring about this necessary transformation, progressives and newer generations must challenge the old guard head-on. This means embracing intraparty competition, primary challenges, and steadfast refusal to settle for the old tunes that no longer captivate. It’s about recognizing that calls for “unity” can sometimes serve as calls for silence and submission. It’s about realizing that the fight for a more equitable and dynamic political party may involve difficult battles and painful losses along the way.
Yet this reckoning does not have to end in destruction. If some within the establishment can overcome their fear and open their eyes to new realities, there’s room to forge a stronger party. There’s still time to build bridges to a future that values equity, bold policy, and genuine representation over the comfort of outdated strategies. The moment calls for courage, not compromise. We are witnessing the first tremors of a generational and ideological earthquake. It’s up to the party’s newer generations to ensure that what follows will be a Democratic Party rebuilt for the century ahead, not just tethered to the glories or failings of its past.
