Will Democrats Become More Republican? Ruy Teixeira Thinks They Must.

The progressive movement that dominated the Democratic Party beginning in the Obama era is rapidly losing ground.

Ideas that once seemed politically unchallengeable on the left — from defunding police to abolishing fossil fuels — have hit a wall of public rejection by the voters.

These ideas were carried by the energy of Black Lives Matter protests, the Squad, and Bernie Sanders-style populism, but are now under attack from left-leaning thought leaders as Democrats struggle to find a leader and a singular message. Right now, they are defined by opposing Trump and the GOP.

Voters overwhelmingly prefer equal opportunity over enforced “equity.” The Democrats’ open-border ideology flooded America with illegal crossings. Now, even Hispanic voters, who have in recent decades been aligned with Democrats, support mass deportation plans.

Progressive prosecutors were elected in major cities, and then ousted as crime rose and voters demanded order. “Defund the police” is political dead weight. Most Americans support more police funding and tougher crime policies, especially nonwhite and working-class voters.

As for the climate agenda and proposals like the Green New Deal, voters are now prioritizing reliable, affordable energy, including oil and gas, not just wind and solar.

Poll after poll shows voters want secure borders, effective policing, fair treatment instead of identity politics, and energy affordability — not revolution.

Progressives misread the public. The public corrected course.

So, as the Democratic Party’s progressive momentum fades, some of its top thinkers are trying to regain stability by returning to the political center.

One of the most prominent voices in that effort is Ruy Teixeira, a seasoned political scientist and commentator whose ideas on elections carry real weight. Many of the party’s top leaders listen to him. He’s also the founder of the excellent, thought-provoking The Liberal Patriot. You can read it here.

What comes next is far from certain. The progressive takeover of the Democratic Party wasn’t slow or orderly — it was fast, sweeping, and spread like a virus, often through decentralized movements. So now the question is: Can a top-down reset actually cure the Democrats of their woke fever? And if so, what would that even look like?

One idea gaining traction is called “abundance.” The name is odd, but it’s being pushed by some thought leaders like Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson as a new governing philosophy: a strong central government that actually works — efficient, competent, and effective.

But that may be a tough sell. The Democrats have long embraced big government, and the result has been the opposite of abundance: bloated, wasteful, and broken systems. It’s hard to imagine the same people who created the mess being the ones to fix it.

I spoke to Ruy to get all these questions answered.

Ari: One thing that really stands out is your criticism of the Democratic Party. Some of your pieces read like Republican talking points. So, why not just join the Republican Party? Why stay aligned with the Democrats if you're so critical of them?

Ruy: That's a fair question. Part of it is just history — I've been oriented toward the Democrats for decades, so there's an identity component. But that alone wouldn’t be enough.

I have a lot of criticism for the Democrats, but joining the Republicans would mean aligning with Trump and his version of the party, which I’m not on board with.

Also, Republicans have traditionally been hostile to the welfare state and much more dogmatic about free markets. While I’m market-oriented, I’m not a libertarian. That said, the GOP is changing. Some parts of it are more appealing now. I’ve even considered calling myself an independent…