Former Sanders aide says far-left activists have seized control of the Democratic Party

Former Democratic fundraiser Evan Barker warned that the party’s grassroots has been captured by its own far-left wing. She explained that the establishment’s effort to suppress progressive challengers in the 2020 cycle and a 2019 blacklist following Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s victory unintentionally strengthened activist networks, enabling them to train each other and attract wealthy donors. According to Barker, this has produced a party dominated by radical donors, staff and a base that pushes policies beyond the comfort zone of many elected leaders.

She noted that Bernie Sanders appears to have been pulled further left on issues such as gun control and immigration by figures like Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar and Abdul El-Sayed. Barker highlighted recent primary victories by progressive candidates, including Abdul El-Sayed’s narrow win for the Michigan Senate nomination, as proof of the movement’s growing influence. She also linked her own departure from the Democratic Party to this leftward shift, referencing former President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign as her original inspiration. The commentary was contributed to by a reporter at one outlet.