{"id":1099,"date":"2026-07-14T10:38:37","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T10:38:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/?p=1099"},"modified":"2026-07-14T10:38:37","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T10:38:37","slug":"the-race-to-become-the-democratic-lefts-next-power-firm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/?p=1099","title":{"rendered":"The Race to Become the Democratic Left\u2019s Next Power Firm"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

Behind a string of recentleftist victories in Democratic primaries across the country is a growing ecosystem of progressive media consulting firms and strategists positioning themselves ahead of a wide-open 2028 presidential cycle.<\/p>\n

Read more Lawmakers Aim to Finish Lindsey Graham\u2019s Final Mission: Russia Sanctions<\/a><\/p>\n

One of those firms, Middle Seat, has quietly racked up a string of victories by working with what have turned out to be some of the highest-profile names to come out of this year\u2019s primaries.<\/p>\n

Among the group\u2019s clients are three democratic socialists fresh to the national political scene:Melat Kiros, who shocked the party by defeating a 15-term incumbent<\/u><\/span> in a primary for a Denver-area Houseseat; Darializa Avila Chevalier<\/u><\/span>, who defeated the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucusin New York; and Claire Valdez, who won the primary for an open Brooklyn-Queens congressional seat last month.<\/p>\n

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York), one of the left\u2019s superstars, has also been a longtime and prominent Middle Seat client.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s midterms, and the Democratic civil war taking place in the primaries before them, are serving as a proving ground for the strategists angling to catch the eye of the dozens of potential candidates looking at a presidential run.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe outsider energy is incredibly potent right now, and we have to reckon with that genuinely,\u201d Connor Lounsbury, a media consultant at Middle Seat, told NOTUS. \u201cThese conversations are going to continue into 2028, and the consultants will all kind of fall into our lanes as we tend to do. But ultimately, I think there is something exciting happening inside the party right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Middle Seat may be positioned to attract additional progressive clientele after Fight Agency \u2014 a splashy communications firm that had worked with the likes of Sen. Ruben Gallego, Sen. John Fetterman and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani \u2014 last week became a punching bag for some corners of the Democratic Party. Fight Agency had worked closely with Graham Platner, who dropped out of the Maine Senate race<\/u><\/span> after facing a string of controversies, including sexual assault allegations.<\/p>\n

Fight Agency\u2019s leadership faced scrutiny for the role it played<\/u><\/span> in making Platner, a political novice, a palatable candidate to win the nomination. Last week, hundreds of members of the Democratic Socialists of America<\/u><\/span> signed and circulated a letter calling on candidates and elected officials to cut ties with Fight Agency. The fallout is likely to set up a round of musical chairs for candidates who are looking for quieter but effective partnerships with consultants who can help them create buzz.<\/p>\n

One progressive strategist told NOTUS that Middle Seat is among the firms that are breaking through a \u201ccrowded media environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDemocrats running for office can\u2019t get trapped listening to DC consultants over the voters in their own districts,\u201d the progressive strategist said in a text. The firm\u2019s signature, the strategist said, is \u201ccommunicating like actual people.\u201d<\/p>\n

There\u2019s some skepticism within the party that the candidates firms like Middle Seat tend to back can win anywhere other than blue districts, which is crucial for the midterms and the presidential election.<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/b>I really hope these consultants who are pushing candidates who are unable to win a general election or really struggle in a general election take a hard look at themselves,\u201d one national Democratic strategist working on Senate campaigns told NOTUS.<\/p>\n

But strategists at Middle Seat said their candidates are able to cut through primary contests because of their \u201cmoral clarity\u201d on issues like Gaza, health care and corporate super PACs. They argue that style of politics appeals to a broader tent of voters.<\/p>\n

Read more Mike Lawler Has a Plan to Survive in New York<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we found through Melat\u2019s campaign is that we had the ability to appeal to virtually every age of voter, and that this would be a campaign bolstered by youth enthusiasm and organizing, but our true path to victory is embracing that desire for a different style of politics,\u201d Bill Neidhardt, a senior media adviser at Middle Seat and former Sanders presidential campaign staffer who made the TV ads for the Kiros campaign, told NOTUS.<\/p>\n

Lounsbury said progressive firms are latching onto long-shot candidates that have been passed over by the main party committees. Those political outsiders, Lounsbury said, are told \u201cnone of the \u2018big firms\u2019 are going to work with you, none of the \u2018power players\u2019 will be on your side.\u201d<\/p>\n

That leaves a gap for firms like Middle Seat to fill, pushing an aggressive on-the-ground campaign style mixed with digital media and fundraising expertise.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe odds are so stacked against them that you have to go back to campaigning 101, just show up on every single street corner you can,\u201d Lounsbury said. \u201cBecause you don\u2019t have the money to do 16 polls and focus groups. Your focus group is literally, like, the local brewery.\u201d<\/p>\n

Middle Seat has taken swings at other incumbents this year, including in California, that haven\u2019t been as successful as its high-profile wins. But overall, the firm has been able to claim triumph this election cycle.<\/p>\n

The group was formed in 2016 in the aftermath of the first Sanders presidential campaign by a cohort of his former staffers. Over the last 18 months, the firm has bolstered its staff ahead of the 2026 midterms, bringing on new strategists and growing its digital fundraising team.<\/p>\n

Staffers at the firm said their beefed-up roster and operations reflects a sizzling insurgent and progressive energy in the party that\u2019s even bigger than the reaction to President Donald Trump\u2019s first election. Lounsbury, who helped elect Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Maryland) and briefly followed her to the Senate, argued the Democrat\u2019s resistance energy isn\u2019t just aimed at Trump anymore. Instead, some of that energy has been turned inward at their own party.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s something the more energetic, progressive side has tapped into this cycle,\u201d Lounsbury said. \u201cWhen you campaign, you have to campaign for things and not just against things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Neidhardt said thatthe insurgency of progressive candidates is just a continuation of the movement and infrastructure built out of the Vermont senator\u2019s presidential campaigns.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe grassroots enthusiasm around Melat, you can\u2019t untangle that from Bernie\u2019s incredible performances in Colorado, from Zohran (Mamdani) inspiring people,\u201d Neidhardt told NOTUS.<\/p>\n

The firm still has several major hurdles ahead of it this cycle, including progressive Nithya Raman\u2019s Los Angeles mayoral campaign against the incumbent mayor, Karen Bass, which will be decided in November.Next month\u2019s Michigan Senateprimary will be the most significant test yet of the muscle being flexed by outsider progressive candidates, <\/b>as Middle Seat\u2019s client, Abdul El-Sayed, is locked in a head-to-head fight against the more moderate Rep. Haley Stevens, the favorite of party leaders.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere Abdul has a leg up on Haley, I would argue, is that no one can accuse him of being D.C.,\u201d Lounsbury said. \u201cWhether or not that has as profound an impact in the general election, time will tell.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Old Infrastructure Underpins Trump Administration\u2019s New War on Fraud<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Middle Seat, formed a decade ago by Bernie Sanders campaign veterans, is riding a wave of shocking wins from Democratic socialists to prominence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1098,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1099","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2026-election"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Race to Become the Democratic Left\u2019s Next Power Firm - Modern Home Journals<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/?p=1099\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Race to Become the Democratic Left\u2019s Next Power Firm - Modern Home Journals\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Middle Seat, formed a decade ago by Bernie Sanders campaign veterans, is riding a wave of shocking wins from Democratic socialists to prominence.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/?p=1099\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Modern Home Journals\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-07-14T10:38:37+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/modernhomejournals.com\\\/?p=1099#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/modernhomejournals.com\\\/?p=1099\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/modernhomejournals.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/533de239efc09a2ab59959cc1bff86d0\"},\"headline\":\"The Race to Become the Democratic Left\u2019s Next Power Firm\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-14T10:38:37+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/modernhomejournals.com\\\/?p=1099\"},\"wordCount\":1185,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/modernhomejournals.com\\\/?p=1099#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/modernhomejournals.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/7109b4108767b4a0a52b42796850a995-scaled.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"2026 Election\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/modernhomejournals.com\\\/?p=1099#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/modernhomejournals.com\\\/?p=1099\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/modernhomejournals.com\\\/?p=1099\",\"name\":\"The Race to Become the Democratic Left\u2019s Next Power Firm - Modern Home Journals\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/modernhomejournals.com\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/modernhomejournals.com\\\/?p=1099#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/modernhomejournals.com\\\/?p=1099#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/modernhomejournals.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/7109b4108767b4a0a52b42796850a995-scaled.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-14T10:38:37+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/modernhomejournals.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/533de239efc09a2ab59959cc1bff86d0\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/modernhomejournals.com\\\/?p=1099#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/modernhomejournals.com\\\/?p=1099\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/modernhomejournals.com\\\/?p=1099#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/modernhomejournals.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/7109b4108767b4a0a52b42796850a995-scaled.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/modernhomejournals.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/7109b4108767b4a0a52b42796850a995-scaled.jpg\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":1704,\"caption\":\"Congressional candidate Claire Valdez speaks during the 'Our Team, Our Year' Get Out The Vote (GOTV) rally for local candidates ahead of next week's Primary Elections, at the Kings Theatre in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, NY, June 18, 2026. (Photo by Anthony Behar\\\/SipaUSA)(Sipa via AP Images)\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/modernhomejournals.com\\\/?p=1099#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/modernhomejournals.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"The Race to Become the Democratic Left\u2019s Next Power Firm\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/modernhomejournals.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/modernhomejournals.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"Modern Home Journals\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/modernhomejournals.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/modernhomejournals.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/533de239efc09a2ab59959cc1bff86d0\",\"name\":\"admin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"admin\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/modernhomejournals.com\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/modernhomejournals.com\\\/?author=1\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The Race to Become the Democratic Left\u2019s Next Power Firm - Modern Home Journals","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/?p=1099","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"The Race to Become the Democratic Left\u2019s Next Power Firm - Modern Home Journals","og_description":"Middle Seat, formed a decade ago by Bernie Sanders campaign veterans, is riding a wave of shocking wins from Democratic socialists to prominence.","og_url":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/?p=1099","og_site_name":"Modern Home Journals","article_published_time":"2026-07-14T10:38:37+00:00","author":"admin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"admin","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/?p=1099#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/?p=1099"},"author":{"name":"admin","@id":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/#\/schema\/person\/533de239efc09a2ab59959cc1bff86d0"},"headline":"The Race to Become the Democratic Left\u2019s Next Power Firm","datePublished":"2026-07-14T10:38:37+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/?p=1099"},"wordCount":1185,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/?p=1099#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7109b4108767b4a0a52b42796850a995-scaled.jpg","articleSection":["2026 Election"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/?p=1099#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/?p=1099","url":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/?p=1099","name":"The Race to Become the Democratic Left\u2019s Next Power Firm - Modern Home Journals","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/?p=1099#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/?p=1099#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7109b4108767b4a0a52b42796850a995-scaled.jpg","datePublished":"2026-07-14T10:38:37+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/#\/schema\/person\/533de239efc09a2ab59959cc1bff86d0"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/?p=1099#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/?p=1099"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/?p=1099#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7109b4108767b4a0a52b42796850a995-scaled.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/7109b4108767b4a0a52b42796850a995-scaled.jpg","width":2560,"height":1704,"caption":"Congressional candidate Claire Valdez speaks during the 'Our Team, Our Year' Get Out The Vote (GOTV) rally for local candidates ahead of next week's Primary Elections, at the Kings Theatre in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, NY, June 18, 2026. (Photo by Anthony Behar\/SipaUSA)(Sipa via AP Images)"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/?p=1099#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The Race to Become the Democratic Left\u2019s Next Power Firm"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/","name":"Modern Home Journals","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/#\/schema\/person\/533de239efc09a2ab59959cc1bff86d0","name":"admin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"admin"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/modernhomejournals.com"],"url":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/?author=1"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1099","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1099"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1099\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1098"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1099"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1099"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1099"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}