Moderate Democrats Win 3 Primaries as Progressives Rack Up 2026 Gains
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 20
Moderate Democrats Win 3 Primaries as Progressives Rack Up 2026 Gains
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 20
Summary
Wisconsin’s David Crowley, Florida Representative Jared Moskowitz and Alaska’s Mary Peltola emerged as notable moderate Democratic primary winners, giving centrists fresh evidence they can still compete in tough races.
Electability drove those victories: the candidates localized their campaigns, kept distance from national party leaders and presented themselves as independent-minded rather than establishment standard-bearers.
Centrist strategists argue Democratic primary voters still prize general-election viability, but no longer trust party elites to define what counts as electable.
2026 has still been a strong year for progressives, leaving moderates to confront pressure for bigger, more transformative ideas even as they notch selective wins.