Focus on the 2028 Electorate, Not Potential Candidates.
Mobilize the masses, and the politicians will follow.
A few weeks ago, a “Free Palestine” flag was displayed at the Nampa, Idaho, stop of Bernie Sanders’ “Fighting Oligarchy” tour. The Vermont Senator stopped his speech during the commotion, but did not tell security to unhand the demonstrators or let their flag fly.
The anti-Zionist left scrutinized Sanders’s lackluster response, and by extension, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who spoke earlier in the evening. As AOC is being discussed as a potential 2028 presidential bid, many offered comments on why they would or wouldn’t support her, alternatives they would/wouldn’t support, and potential third-party strategies. First, these conversations are premature. The New York congresswoman has shown strong reluctance to run for president, so there's little point in arguing about a campaign that might not happen. Second, focusing on potential Democratic nominees misunderstands the essence of left-wing movements.
According to the liberal theory of change (“liberal” as in the belief in capitalist democracy), the three branches of the United States government are optimally constructed to maximize freedom, liberty, and prosperity. The only thing that needs to change is who drives this perfect system. So, we have elections so the Right Person can use the government to solve problems and protect Americans. This worldview, which you were taught in elementary school, is the core belief of the Democratic Party, political centrists, and the surviving Never Trump Republicans. It’s also a childish understanding of politics.
In reality, America’s electoral levers were designed to thwart populist threats to the ownership class: landlords in 1788 and oligarchs in 2025. It suppresses votes to empower conservative, rural interests over true democracy. Recognizing these systemic defects, progressives operate with a more realistic theory of change: while electoralism can be useful, the only way to overpower our conservative system is through the organized mass-mobilization of the American people. This theory has been repeatedly validated throughout history. Washington D.C. didn’t decide to free the slaves, give women the vote, or pass the Civil Rights Act because they were nice — they did those things because the masses demanded them, forcing politicians to accept their demands or face the consequences.
That’s why we shouldn’t focus too much on high-profile individuals. Instead, we should educate and organize the American people so that all politicians, those we like and those we dislike, are forced to operate in a political environment inclined to our goals. This is especially crucial for Palestinian liberation.
Neither Bernie Sanders nor Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has met my high standards on Palestine. Sanders still states, “Israel has a right to defend itself” (it doesn’t) and AOC voted to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, which includes criticizing Israel.1 It’s perfectly fair to criticize these decisions. On the flip side of the coin, neither Bernie nor AOC has taken a cent from AIPAC2, and both have introduced bills to block arms sales to Israel in their respective legislatures.34 On Palestine alone, they’re far ahead of their peers.
These less-than-perfect records have sparked a debate about whether or not Sanders, and more importantly, AOC, are sufficient to represent the pro-Palestine movement. Should we trust them as stalwarts of our cause? And, should the New York Congresswoman announce a 2028 Presidential bid, would she deserve the anti-genocide votes that arguably cost Kamala Harris the 2024 election?5
While I understand the sincerity everyone brings to this debate, it’s the wrong conversation. The left’s immediate goal should not be to anoint or decry potential candidates, but to move the American public towards Palestinian liberation, forcing elected representatives to catch up. While America isn’t a true democracy, politicians do respond to public pressure. President Joe Biden was good for labor, but he broke the 2022 Railroad Strike. Alternatively, while Josh Hawley is bad on almost every issue, he introduced a bill to cap credit card debt.6 Both of these men were responding to what they saw as the public’s desires. Biden forced railroad workers back to work because he didn’t want voters angry about empty store shelves before Christmas, while Hawley has adopted some left economic positions to capture America’s surging populist sentiment for the GOP. (I think he’s full of shit, but he’s correct to recognize voters are tired of oligarchy.) Both of these acts, one bad and one good, were made because the decision makers were aware of unorganized public sentiment. Now imagine what we can do once we’re organized and pulling in the same direction.
We cannot control who will be the next Democratic nominee. A least not for now. It could be anyone: AOC, Bernie, Josh Shapiro, Michelle Obama, or someone I’ve never heard of. But what we do have control over is the electorate that future candidate will have to campaign for. Regardless of whether the nominee is anti-imperialist or pro-Zionist, it’s far better they run in an electorate organized and energized towards Palestinian freedom than one that isn’t. Fortunately, on the issue of Palestine, there’s no better time for this mass organization.
The last few years have been dismaying (understatement of the century). But one bright spot is the shifting public sympathy from Israel towards the Palestinian people. For the first time in its polling history, Gallup found less than half of Americans sympathize with Israelis more than Palestinians. Support fell from 51% in 2024 to 46% in 2025. Additionally, support for Palestinians over Israelis rose to 33%, up from 27% the year prior.7
The data is more inspiring among Democrats. Six out of ten sympathize with Palestine, while those sympathizing with Israel plummeted 14 points (35% to 21%). The significance of this shift can’t be understated. Democrat voters didn’t taper their enthusiasm for Israel — their sympathies switched to the Palestinians.
We see more hope amongst the younger generations. According to Pew, 60% of adults under thirty have a favorable view of Palestinians, compared to 46% favoring Israelis. That number skyrockets to 76% among young people who lean Democrat. Even young Republicans have much more positive views of Palestine than their older counterparts.8
Much like my critiques with AOC and Sanders, I doubt these Americans are perfectly aligned with how I understand this issue. They likely refer to Israel-Palestine as a “conflict,” while I see it as a colonial project. Most probably refer to the last eighteen months as a “war” between Israel and Hamas, while I see it as an Israeli genocide. But the disparity between the language, understanding, and beliefs of Americans sympathetic to Palestinians and those of anti-Zionism isn’t an issue — it’s an opportunity.
If the left spends the next three years guiding these conscientious Americans into anti-Zionism, we can guarantee future candidates will be less-inclined to send our money to the Israeli war machine. Much like the boycott campaigns that crumbled apartheid South Africa, this will take hard work. But we’re not starting from scratch. As the above polling shows, millions of Americans have already seen through the Israel lobby’s lies and recognized the daily oppression Palestinians endured. These people have expressed a desire for everyone living between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea to have a peaceful, dignified life, and we must show them the only way to make their dreams a reality is by dismantling the Israeli ethnostate. Then, and only then, will the explosions fade and be replaced by the laughter of children.
In the literal definition of the word, we must radicalize these Americans, rooting out the propaganda ingrained into our DNA and replacing it with a sober understanding of the issue. Regardless of which two politicians will face off in November of 2028 (if we’re allowed to have an election, of course), a public who strongly supports the Palestinian cause will produce a better outcomes than one who doesn’t. It will allow anti-Zionist candidates to run unapologetically on their values while forcing Zionist candidates to struggle.
Fortunately, a segment of American is already onboard with a justice-focused foreign policy. After the “Free Palestine” flag was pulled down during the Sanders’ rally I mentioned earlier (in a state that Trump won by 37 points) the crowd broke out in chant. (Fast forward to 1:45.)
Forgive me if there are typos in this article. The tears have flooded my keyboard.
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In Solidarity — Joe
https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2024/roll476.xml#N
https://x.com/TrackAIPAC/status/1792641834159677479
https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/media/press-releases/ocasio-cortez-pocan-tlaib-lead-joint-resolution-block-weapon-sales-netanyahu
https://truthout.org/articles/only-15-senators-back-sanders-bid-to-block-arms-to-israel-as-gaza-deaths-top-50k/
https://www.imeupolicyproject.org/postelection-polling
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-hawley-introduce-bill-capping-credit-card-interest-rates-at-10/
https://news.gallup.com/poll/657404/less-half-sympathetic-toward-israelis.aspx
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/04/02/younger-americans-stand-out-in-their-views-of-the-israel-hamas-war/sr_24-04-02_young-americans-war_2-png/
Frankly, one of the prime things the DNC + their pet super-PACs and pundits refuse to understand that we do understand is, that "personality politics" led us to this grim situation we're in now.
They kept polishing hood ornaments, to the neglect of the engine. State and county parties were left to wither on the vine, while national super-PACs and consultancies waxed fat from money and power.
Worse yet, not only did the DNC create that situation; it intends to defend it to the last ditch.
Really well written, like this one