Vote for the change you want to see.
The Republican party got remade because trumpists showed up and outvoted the party elites. No reason it can't happen for the Left except for laziness and apathy.
If all the progressives furious about the state of affairs now had shown up for Sanders in 2016, I doubt we'd be in this hellish timeline. Sadly, he needed the young progressive vote to show up.
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What Democratic primaries?
In case you're unaware, there were tons of them around the nation. There wasn't one for the president this time, but there were still plenty of primaries that were very influential. Your local officials have more impact on you than the president does.
There technically was, it just not one where other candidates can really compete. The incumbent is pretty much guaranteed to win their primary.
AOC has entered the chat.
The guy she unseated in the primary was along term incumbent with lots of connections to the NYC establishment.
If the DNC was fully filled with a bunch of AOC types, we'd be leagues ahead on so many things this country is fucking up.
Granted, that is in part dependent on a country that would accept an AOC style DNC.
Look at what FDR actually did back in the day. If we had a CCC today they'd be working on climate change and high speed rail.
No, for the president there literally wasn't. The party gets to choose to hold a primary. It isn't a given. Usually they don't hold one if the previous president is running again. There were primaries for other positions, but there was not a Democratic primary for the president.
Dude, I literally voted in the primary. What the fuck are you talking about?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Democratic_Party_presidential_primaries
It very much happened. I remember voting for Philips for the 2024 DNC presidential primary.
Probably state by state? I remember when I was complaining about party interference with Bernie, then CO saw which way things were going with Trump, and decided to cancel their primary and award all delegates to his opposition (I don't remember who was still standing).
Edit: Nevermind I finally clicked the link after opening my big mouth and saw that the map shows no primaries were cancelled in 2024. I'll leave this as a warning. People, don't be like me. Click the link before replying.
Props to you for taking responsibility for that.
Oh, yeah. You're right. I remember that now. It didn't last long and I don't know if it ever made it to my state with anyone left.
By the time my state got it's turn, Philips had already dropped out and endorsed Biden. Still voted for him in the primary because he was basically the only other option.
So even in local elections people are not allowed to vote for a third party?
What the fuck are you talking about? Do you just want to act like you're a victim for no reason, while also acting like you have some moral highground?
Of course you can vote third party. I'd still do it strategically, but local is where they can actually win and gain influence. You can also vote in the Democrat and third party primaries (if they have them) to get candidates that suit you better.
Odds are a leftist will run under the Democrat banner, and try to win local primaries, and this is how parties change. They don't change from presidential elections (usually, Trump arguably did but I'd argue that change was happening for a long time locally first). You need to win local elections and build a power base of enthusiastic voters and experienced politicians (and donors). They usually have to prove themselves locally first, and if you aren't supporting them then you're never going to have someone you like in positions of power.
You're allowed to do whatever you want.
If you want to actually make a difference you use strategy.
The smart play is to get a Left leaning Dem nominated. Most voters aren't going to vote for a 3rd Party candidate no matter how good they are.
I'd rather vote for a mild Left candidate who has a real chance of winning than throw my vote away on my ideal candidate.
2016 or 2020.