Recently, California Governor Gavin Newsom has entered into the political limelight. He’s just released a detailed, audacious blueprint to restore the Democratic Party’s fortunes. Equally important, he unveiled his strategy in a style worthy of former President Donald Trump, using attention-grabbing, all-caps declarations. This approach is a notable return from the old Democratic decorum, and we should applaud Newsom’s willingness to challenge his party with such courage.
Indeed, in making his announcement, Newsom was not timid about taking shots at his would-be Republican challengers. He derided White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt as “KaroLYIN.” This personal nickname was a devastating shot across the bow that revealed the increasingly intractable partisan warfare. This humorous but sharp shot personifies his ability to take unusual, unexpected approaches to drive home a message at the heart of campaign.
And in an amazing show of creative use of AI technology, to help promote his campaign, Newsom used AI-generated celebrity endorsements. This shift not only indicates a more contemporary sense of engagement, it shows the new tactics being adopted by political communicators. He uses technology and he uses popular culture. His hope is to reach some of those younger, first-time voters who are disillusioned with the usual political boilerplate.
Taken together, Newsom’s moves look like a troubling signal of which direction the Democratic Party is heading. Many observers argue that Democrats should refrain from emulating right-wing populism, asserting that the party’s identity must remain distinct and principled. The current political landscape suggests that the cult of congeniality within the Democratic establishment has rendered them out of touch with pressing societal issues. This unwillingness to take a more oppositional approach will put their utility at risk in ensuring they are taking care of the needs of their constituents.
Unlike many of his peers, Newsom shows a great willingness to break the conventional wisdom when the situation calls for it. His style energizes a new generation angry at Democratic establishment complacency that has deepened its own self-satisfaction. This tunnel vision leads instead to stagnation and a failure to innovate. This sentiment is echoed by Susan Crawford, who broke from traditional judicial etiquette during Wisconsin’s supreme court race this year, creating ripples in a system designed to contain dissent.
Crawford’s act of defiance is a reminder that interruptions can function as an immune response within institutions. Karl Polanyi once observed that such disruptions can jolt systems back to health, allowing for decorum to be restored when necessary. This powerful idea illustrates the importance of questioning the default. In such a political environment, complacency can do more than breed bad policy – it can directly sow the seeds of democratic erosion.
The challenge for Democrats is not just tactical. It’s insidiously cultural. The party’s Old Boys’ Club fascism holds deafening silence to a rigid morality of decorum and propriety. This harmful move would roll us back to the Obama administration. This infatuation with old rules could make it harder for them to truly go out and connect with issues and what voters care about today. As Ryan W Powers noted, there exists a stark contrast between the political elite and the realities faced by ordinary citizens, often culminating in discussions held “in shadowy back rooms, on billion-dollar yachts.”
The recent flight of dozens of Democratic lawmakers from Texas to Illinois is the latest chapter in this deepening divide. By denying Republicans the quorum needed to pass new congressional maps, these lawmakers took a bold stand against perceived threats to democratic integrity. Newsom’s proposal to suspend California’s independent redistricting commission and create maps designed to give Democrats a comparable advantage raises ethical questions about fairness and representation.
This is a hard truth that all Democratic leaders should wrestle with—that their establishment can become a prisoner of its own interests. The truer struggle is in whether they will free themselves from their fetishization of old-school decorum long enough to save democracy from dying. Political landscapes are changing fast these days. To not only survive but thrive, it’s imperative to remain amply flexible and creative enough to question the status quo.
Nicole Collier’s recent all-night campout in the House chamber is a symbol to this new and growing political environment. Her focus on restoring the tide against ambitious GOP power plays shows a commitment to counteract anti-democratic actions even with heavy retaliation, and it’s inspiring. These contributions of dissent are so important in helping to restore the party’s relationship with its base.