After Trump's defeat: The upheaval shaking the Democratic Party

Democrats swept both houses of Congress in the midterm elections, but the victory is attributed to moderate candidates who defeated progressives. The Blue Dog Coalition nearly doubled its strength, and moderates now set the agenda in Washington, focusing on the economy and cost of living.

Democrats achieved a sweeping victory in the U.S. midterm elections, regaining control of both houses of Congress. However, behind the victory lies an internal party upheaval: it was the moderate candidates, not the progressives, who decided the race. According to a report in the New York Times, the shift was built in swing districts and Republican states, where pragmatic candidates convinced conservative audiences. The Blue Dog Coalition nearly doubled its strength with 14 new members. Party leaders Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer now rely on a majority of lawmakers who ran a populist-pragmatic campaign focused on the economy. Moderates are calling for a focus on easing the cost of living rather than far-reaching reforms.