Former Democratic fundraiser warns identity politics could topple both parties

Evan Barker, a 33-year-old former Democratic operative, released the memoir "Nothing Left: Confessions of a Democratic Operative," describing how identity politics eroded the party she once helped fundraise for. Raised in a working-class Midwestern family and living with a rare, potentially fatal genetic condition, she entered politics to improve health care and economic security, later joining Bernie Sanders’ 2016 campaign where she discovered a talent for fundraising.

Barker alleges Democratic leadership deliberately allowed progressive candidates to lose in order to retain control over the party’s messaging. She contends the party is now dominated by a donor class and activist base obsessed with race and gender, creating an environment hostile to white people despite many leaders being white. The book warns that the same identity-centric focus could eventually undermine the Republican Party. Excerpts appeared in one outlet, highlighting her personal hardships and critique of the party’s current trajectory.