Middleweight Politics

In the aftermath of the global financial crisis, left-wing populism surged with movements like Occupy Wall Street and figures such as Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Yet, while the MAGA wing fuels right-wing populism’s dominance in the GOP, the populist left has seemingly lost its momentum.
After leading the city's turnaround, Detroit's Democratic Mayor Mike Duggan has opted to launch a bid for governor as an independent rather than enter into a primary race with his fellow Democrats. This is part of a larger trend in America where centrist politicians capable of building coalitions across the aisle often find their biggest opponents are members of their own party.