Chicago – For many progressives, the past decade has been littered with problems disappointmentBut a recent ballot victory gives hope of remaking the Democratic Party from the bottom up, not from Washington.

Earlier this month in Chicago, a former teacher union organizer won unexpectedly mayor race. In St. Louis, progressives secured a majority in the city council. The next opportunity could be in Philadelphia and Houston, which have mayoral elections this year.

A focus on low-level contests is already helping progressives gain power and influence policy at the local level, organizers say, shaping issues such as the minimum wage. . It may also help the movement find future stars.

“Progressives have been looking at ways to be strategic and to build power,” said Sarah Nelson, president of the Flight Attendants Association, who was the leading national voice for Vermont senators. . Bernie Sanders ‘ 2016 and 2020 presidential bids. “If you look around and say, ‘Who’s ready to run for president?’ What do you have to do if your field is shallow? there is.”

This year’s focus on state and local racing follows years of incremental progress and some heartbreaking setbacks. Sanders inspired the left with campaigns centered around bold calls in 2016 and his 2020 presidential campaign. Government-funded universal health careBut he lost each time to rivals aligned with the Democratic establishment, who advocated a more cautious approach.

On Capitol Hill, progressive candidates successfully defeated several prominent incumbents in the 2018 midterm elections and elections for candidates like the New York State Senate. Alexandria Ocasio CortezBut from New York to Michigan, and Ohio and texas, a prominent progressive, lost last year’s primary.And as President Joe Biden Gearing up for re-election, he faces no serious challenge from the left.

Still, Sanders and others have left their mark, pushing mainstream Democrats to the left on major issues such as combating climate change and forgiving student loan debt, and advocating for those on the front lines of the movement today. It inspires me.

Among them was Brandon Johnson, elected mayor of Chicago, who campaigned alongside Sanders and other top congressional progressives to appeal to a diverse and young voter.

In his victory speech, Johnson said, “Let us take this bold progressive movement around the United States of America.

our revolution, Activist group grew out of Sanders’ 2016 White House bidendorsed Johnson and the progressive candidate, who recently won three of the four seats on the St. Louis City Council. This makes the progressive majority in a city where Mayor Tishaula Jones is also a self-proclaimed progressive.

Our Revolution said it activated each of its 90,000 members in Chicago an average of three times, urging them to vote for Johnson, and made 100,000 calls in St. Louis. The group also endorses Helen Zim, a progressive former Philadelphia city council member and one of about a dozen candidates vying for next month’s Democratic mayoral primary.

“When we win the ground in our cities, it’s really a blueprint. Because we can’t wait for Congress.

Our Revolution Executive Director Joseph Geevarghese says progressive racial and community organizing, such as school boards, is more effective than it was decades ago.

“We’re building power from the bottom up, city by city,” Giebergies said, adding, “In major metropolitan areas, we have a credible, progressive slate that will contest power against the Democratic establishment. I have,” he added.

Randy Weingarten, president of the Federation of American Teachers and a member of the Democratic National Committee, countered that there should be no tension between the party’s left and moderates. She said she called for consensus building to address “quality of life issues” such as homelessness.

“All of these cities are complex places that need to work together to get things done,” Weingarten said. “You have to work with people who don’t always agree, and that’s a strength, not a weakness.”

Not all was rosy for progressives.Moderate candidates outperformed last week’s progressive options Denver City Council Race.

But there are many more opportunities ahead. A Democrat in Houston, his fourth largest city in the United States. sheila jackson leeSince joining Congress in 1995, she has been an outspoken progressive and running for mayor.

And the Left has not abandoned parliamentary elections.

Progressive Champion Rep. Barbara Lee and fellow Democrats. Katie Porterwas a vocal supporter of the Massachusetts Senator. Elizabeth Warren The progressive campaign for the 2020 presidential election is among those running to replace a retiring California senator. Diane Feinstein next year.

Democratic Rep. of Arizona. Ruben GallegoA progressive 43-year-old Iraq War veteran and Spanish speaker representing much of downtown Phoenix is ​​trying to usurp the Senate seat. Kirsten CinemaHe left the Democratic Party last year and intends to run for re-election as an independent.

“Working-class Democrats are elected, but corporate Democrats aren’t,” said Chuck Rocha, the principal architect of Sanders’ 2016 campaign and head of Nuestro PAC, which endorsed Gallego. said. But Rocha was quick to warn that Gallego isn’t running as a “progressive or liberal savior.”

“He ran as ‘I was a enlisted man and had to sleep on my mom’s couch until I got a bed in college’ and was an advocate for working-class people in Arizona,” Rocha said. rice field.

Questions about the revived Democratic left come as Biden preparing to officially launch his re-election campaign And he will have to decide how to frame his political vision and ideology to appeal to swing voters. Biden endorses A major progressive goal, promoting expanding social programs, and green energy to combat climate change.

Biden eventually oversaw the passage of dramatic federal spending increases, including Healthcare and green technologyhe tried forgive student loans For millions of Americans, but saw the plan challenged in court.

On other issues, however, Biden is more moderate.After major legislation to curb police brutality and institutional racism stalled in Congress, the president signed the executive order make modest changes.He also argued that rather than heeding calls by some progressives to cut funding for law enforcement, the answer is more police funding.

More recently, the president angered liberal Democrats by failing to use a veto to overturn a new local law defended by Republicans. Crime regulation in the capital approve large oil drilling projects in Alaska.

Biden campaign aides say Biden has shown flexibility to best respond to ongoing political and policy challenges. Rocha said Gallego would benefit from Biden’s 2024 campaign. Legislative outcome And how it benefited working-class families in battleground states like Arizona.

But some progressives say the White House should pay attention to the movement’s victory over votes.

“I hope he’s paying attention,” said Hannah Riddle, director of candidate services for the activist group Progressive Change Campaign Committee. It’s a strategy, and that model can be replicated across the country.”

___ Weissert reported from Washington.