With a tumultuous year behind us, America is yearning for leadership. It’s beyond clear that the American people need progressive change. On January 20, Chief Justice John Roberts swore in Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. They were not the first choice of many Americans. But why don’t they represent the progressive ideals of many Democrats?
To find the answers, it’s necessary to look back at the heated demcratic primary. The first candidate to jump into the race was Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. An innovative, productive, and moderately well-known politician, she was given attention as soon as she announced her candidacy in February 2019. Although her campaign started off with a bang, support soon began to fizzle out. I was told time after time as I called potential voters that our country simply wasn’t ready to have a woman as its president. Even as Warren’s debate performances improved, her poll numbers largely remained stagnant below those of Senator Bernie Sanders and President Biden. Why?
Part of the answer lies in the fact that the progressive vote was taken primarily by Senator Sanders. Throughout his career, Sanders has had very minimal or negative policy impact. As mayor of Burlington, Vermont, the poverty rate rose 42 percent. As a senator, he has sponsored over 600 bills, only two of which passed (the main purpose of one of the bills was to rename a post office). Even without significant policy achievements, however, he still stood as a force to be reckoned with in the primary season. After Warren released several plans early in her campaign, and became known for doing so (Warren has a plan for that!), Sanders knew he had to make plans to compete.
However, in contrast to Warren’s plans, Sanders’ plans consisted only of exciting ideas meant to fire up a base of young folks who didn’t know any better. They lacked details or methods of funding, but they led to memorable sound bites that lured the attention of Americans fed up with the state of the country. As a result, Sanders performed better in polls. Warren and Sanders do admittedly have similar ideas on lots of current issues, one example being Universal Healthcare. In contrast to Sanders, Warren was able to illustrate her plan to fund Universal Healthcare. I believe it’s important to continue to educate the voting population on why they should support something, and if it will be possible to make it law. Warren embodies this logical, educational approach.
This emphasis on facts and educating voters is why Warren’s plans show maturity and pragmatism. They look thoroughly at all aspects of an issue and provide achievable sources of funding for a solution. One example of a plan that Warren would implement is Universal Childcare, a plan which would be paid for entirely by Warren’s ultra-millionaire tax. But this sort of careful analysis of policy isn’t what the media likes to portray, and trying to explain a plan takes time, time that Warren didn’t have at debates. As a result, Sanders soaked up the progressive vote. When voters had to choose between a man who preaches radically anti-capitalist ideas but whose career lacks tangible policy achievements or a woman whose entire career has been spent working with and successfully fighting for Americans, they chose the man. But Sanders couldn’t hold up to the charisma and flourishing career of Biden, leaving Democrats with no progressive voice at all.
So what does the future hold for Warren? A 2024 presidential run? I think so. Warren is a progressive voice of reason, an articulate and poised speaker, and a highly effective change maker. Age and gender need not be excuses any longer. Democrats should get ready to back Elizabeth Warren in 2024, and they should feel confident that she can win. A realization is needed that someone like Bernie Sanders will never be successful in American politics. He has sought to work outside of the system for his entire career, refusing to compromise or weigh all effects of policy decisions. We see this by simply looking at his near empty record of successful and meaningful bills, and by contrasting it with all of Warren’s numerous achievements in every political position she has held. For those reasons, when the time comes, we must all rise up and support a progressive ticket, with Warren’s name right on top.