Centrist group Third Way vows to push progressive Democrats out of party

Third Way, a centrist Democratic organization, has publicly committed to expelling progressive elements from the party, launching a $15 million effort through 2028 to counter democratic socialism. The group argues that left-leaning victories in swing states could damage the party’s chances in the upcoming election cycle. The article links today’s turmoil to the 1980s creation of the Democratic Leadership Council, which promoted welfare reform, free trade and close ties to corporate America.

It recounts how Reagan’s 1981 crackdown on the PATCO union dramatically reduced private-sector union membership, weakening a traditional source of Democratic funding. Subsequent reliance on corporate donors grew, culminating in the formation of Third Way in 2005 to institutionalize “democratic capitalism.” The author warns that this internal war may prevent the party from pursuing popular progressive goals such as universal health coverage and climate relief.