New Voter Report Warns Democrats, Move Away From Far-Left

The new report from the center-left group Welcome makes a blunt case: Democrats are out of touch, their policy moves have shifted sharply left since 2013, and that shift is costing them public trust and dollars; Republicans see this as clear evidence that the party must change course or face continued losses in 2026. This article lays out the report’s findings, the reactions from party figures, the historical trends in Democratic voting on high-profile bills, and the wider political fallout including donor anger and grassroots tensions. It also notes efforts by centrists to steer the party back toward pragmatic positions on crime and immigration, and the continued resistance from progressive factions. Readers get the key facts, direct quotes, and the political context driving the current intra-party fight.

Welcome started as a PAC in 2022 and has since shifted into a political research nonprofit that spent months polling and speaking with voters. The organization reports that 70 percent of respondents think the Democratic Party is “out of touch,” and many told researchers that cultural priorities like LGBTQ rights and climate issues are being put ahead of border security and crime. Those findings are being packaged into a report and circulated to elected Democrats with the explicit aim of influencing strategy ahead of the 2026 midterms. The group plans events in Washington and New York to press its case that messaging and candidate choices must change.

The report’s recommendations are straightforward and uncomfortable for many on the left: dial back what it calls “faculty lounge” rhetoric on race, abortion, and LGBTQ topics, and recruit nominees willing to work with Republicans on immigration and crime legislation. Former Illinois Rep. Cheri Bustos endorsed the findings and warned, “The Democratic Party had better listen — for the good of our nation.” Centrists pushing this playbook argue that compromise on bread-and-butter issues would reconnect Democrats with swing voters who feel ignored. That centrist push has drawn protests from progressives who see any compromise as betrayal.

Welcome analyzed legislative behavior from 2013 through 2024 and found dramatic shifts in Democratic co-sponsorship patterns. Support for measures like reparations grew from one percent co-sponsorship to 57 percent, and backing for assault weapons bans rose from 41 percent to 88 percent. Votes to expand prisoner voting rights climbed from four percent to 41 percent, and support for measures to remove state abortion limits increased from about 60 percent to 98 percent. Over that same period, the share of voters saying Democrats are “too liberal” increased from 47 percent to 55 percent, suggesting a correlation between the party’s ideological moves and public perception.

Political operatives and veteran strategists have been warning that these shifts carry electoral risk. In June, a gathering of centrist elected officials and candidates in Washington highlighted an internal tug-of-war over the party’s future direction. Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) summed up one centrists’ fear in blunt terms: “When you read the documents of the national Indivisible group, they spell it right out, as plain as day, that they’re throwing out the Blue Dogs and New Dems. Their goal is to divide the Democratic coalition until they are 100 percent in the image of the progressive caucus.” That quote underscores how stark the divide has become and why centrists are pushing hard for a course correction.

Money matters in politics, and the financial picture makes the political stakes even clearer. Recent reporting on fundraising shows Republicans holding a large cash advantage heading into the midterms, while Democrats grapple with dwindling balances and frustrated donors. High-dollar contributors have reportedly pushed back against what they see as wasted resources on fringe priorities, and some have responded angrily to solicitations for party fundraising events. This donor discontent adds pressure on party leaders to reassess strategy and candidate slating in competitive districts.

Grassroots tensions play out publicly as well. Progressive activists continue to rally around candidates and causes that energize a base but alienate moderates and independents in battleground areas. Events supporting left-leaning mayoral hopefuls and other local figures show that the progressive wing retains energy and organizational muscle. That energy complicates efforts by centrists to steer the party toward more traditional, voter-friendly positions on public safety and immigration.

The data and the politics converge in a simple political reality: when voters say a party is out of touch, that perception costs votes and fundraising. For those watching from the right, the report confirms what has been visible in polling and election results—Democrats who embrace hard-left policies risk losing persuadable voters who care first about security, jobs, and safety. Whether national party leaders will heed warnings from groups like Welcome remains to be seen, but the pressure on the Democratic coalition is unmistakable.