Third Way Doesn’t Care About the Democratic Party

Third Way Launches $15 Million Effort Targeting Democratic Socialist Candidates

Third Way, a centrist Democratic organization, announced plans for a $15 million campaign against candidates aligned with democratic socialist positions ahead of the 2028 elections. The move follows primary victories by several progressive candidates, including Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan’s Senate race.

The organization’s leaders, Jon Cowan and Matt Bennett, outlined their position in a Washington Post op-ed. They attributed recent Democratic electoral difficulties to what they described as the party’s shift toward more progressive policies. The op-ed referenced primary results in New York City and Colorado, along with El-Sayed’s win, as examples of this trend.

Cowan and Bennett also criticized Vice President Kamala Harris’s 2024 campaign for insufficient movement away from positions she had taken during the 2020 Democratic primaries. They pointed to a New York Times poll indicating that 62 percent of Democratic voters identify as somewhat or very liberal and prefer candidates who present themselves as fighters for working people.

Third Way has previously conducted research on voter attitudes, including a post-2016 project in Wisconsin documented by Atlantic writer Molly Ball. That reporting described researchers encountering strongly partisan voters rather than a large moderate bloc. The final report issued by the organization emphasized preferences for consensus and pragmatism.

Robert Reich, a former labor secretary, has written on Third Way’s funding sources. In posts on social media and his Substack, Reich listed donors that include Wall Street firms, private equity entities, members of the American Legislative Exchange Council, and supporters of the Republican Attorneys General Association. He also noted past honorary co-chairs Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema. Separate reporting by Sludge indicated contributions from health insurance interests.

Third Way has stated its goal is to support candidates who can win general elections. The organization’s critics, including some progressive writers, have argued that its donor relationships limit its alignment with certain policy priorities such as Medicare for All.

The announcement occurs amid broader discussion within the Democratic Party about primary strategies and general-election viability. Some candidates identified with the Democratic Socialists of America or similar groups have won local and state-level races by combining volunteer mobilization with outreach to other progressive organizations, according to reporting in the New York Times and commentary by Nathan Newman.

Third Way’s effort is scheduled to run through the 2028 cycle. The group has not released detailed plans for specific races beyond the overall funding commitment.