As the fourth Democratic Debate took place last Tuesday night, one thing became increasingly obvious: a new frontrunner had emerged.
Elizabeth Warren dominated the debate stage. When she did not have the floor, she was constantly sparring with the other candidates who challenged her at any opportunity they could. Once an outsider in the race, Warren has found herself in firm control of the Democratic field vying for the White House.
Aside from Warren, an unexpected major contender on Tuesday was Andrew Yang, a candidate no one in the field took as a serious challenge until recently. Yang’s policies regarding automation and a “freedom dividend” were front-and-center on during the debate and his profile continued to grow.
Just a few months ago, Warren and Yang were both playing second fiddle to the likes of Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders. As their policies have gained more attention, however, their campaigns have gained more traction.
Both Warren’s and Yang’s rise have been part of a larger trend occurring in politics both at home and abroad — voters seem to be attracted to politicians who promote policies that are out of the mainstream.
This trend has evolved throughout the political history of the U.S. What was once politically radical is now commonplace. Most recently, the campaign policies of Barack Obama were a major turning point in political discourse and legislation.
One of Obama’s key issues was healthcare, as he promised to expand access to affordable health insurance to all Americans and followed through on this promise when the Affordable Care Act was passed.
At the time this was a radical policy that had never gained much traction in Washington. Looking back, however, it is clear that Obama’s policy stance was only a precursor to the ideas like Medicare for all that would come after him and are built on his work in healthcare.
It was President Donald Trump who would eventually come to redefine what the term normal means in Washington. Trump’s policies drastically deviate from those of traditional Republicans, as he has fundamentally changed how America handles both its foreign and domestic policy.
From the very principle of considering Russia any sort of ally to the U.S. to increased support of tariffs by the Republican base, Trump is changing the widely accepted political values of the party. It was these radical stances which propelled Trump into office and after witnessing his success, many within his own party are adopting the same views.
On the other side of the aisle, backlash against Trump has allowed for many progressives to be swept into office. Many of progressives ran on policies that make Obama’s look almost conservative, such as decriminalizing border crossings, free college tuition and abolishing private insurance are all ideas which have gained major traction only within the past few years.
It is with these trends in mind that we can return to this past week’s debate. Since the beginning of the Democratic race, Joe has been seen as the candidate best fit to defeat Trump in next year’s election. In many polls, he was viewed as the most electable candidate, a moderate running as someone who can carry on the legacy of the man he served under as vice president.
But as time has told, Biden does not bring any enthusiasm to his campaign. He is simply hoping that his position in the previous administration will deliver him the nomination.
It is neither Biden or his ideas, however, which have been the talking points amongst Democrats. Instead, that honor has gone to the progressives in the race who have promised to once again reshape America.
Whether or not any of these candidates can win the nomination is yet to be seen, but their impact has already become clear. Americans of all political affiliations want to see major change and see politicians who bring something new to the table.
