Chicago March 31, 2025
A growing number of Democrats are expressing anger and frustration with their party leaders, with some even calling for their replacement. This sentiment is reminiscent of the tea party movement that swept out Republican incumbents 15 years ago.
According to Paco Fabián, deputy director of Our Revolution, a grassroots group allied with Senator Bernie Sanders, Democratic incumbents should be worried about holding onto power. “There’s a real energy right now against them,” Fabián said. “And as soon as somebody figures out how to harness it, they’re going to be in deep trouble.”
Recent events have highlighted this frustration. Arizona Democrats pushed out their party chair, and Georgia Democrats are considering doing the same. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer postponed a book tour due to protests and calls for a primary challenge.
A February Quinnipiac poll revealed that about half of Democrats disapprove of how their party is handling its job in Congress, while only about 4 in 10 approve. This is a significant decline from the start of Joe Biden’s presidency in 2021, when over 8 in 10 Democrats approved of their party’s performance.