Former Democratic Fundraiser Says Party Has Turned Into Corporate-Friendly Identity Politics Machine
Evan Barker’s new book argues the Democratic Party has abandoned its working-class roots in favor of elite-driven identity politics, citing figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the 2024 Harris campaign.
Evan Barker’s "Nothing Left: Confessions of a Democratic Operative" claims the Democratic Party has morphed from a broad, working-class coalition into an elite organization obsessed with identity politics.
He recounts fundraising now framing issues such as healthcare through "intersectionality," pushing the party away from economic concerns. Barker also attributes the 2024 Kamala Harris campaign’s defeat to its handling of the Gaza war and dismissal of voters’ economic anxieties. He proposes Democrats revive a populist agenda, merging the best of MAGA’s economic messaging with Bernie’s ideas, urging a shift back to policies that improve ordinary Americans’ lives.
Why it matters
The book spotlights internal debates that could reshape Democratic strategy and voter outreach.
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