The Democratic establishment's ideas deficit

The centrist Democratic group Third Way recently declared "war" on democratic socialists to head off what they fear could be a far-left hijacking of the party ahead of 2028.

But establishment Democrats have made clear what they're against without making much of a case for what they're for.

Why it matters: It's hard to beat something with nothing.

Democratic socialism, whatever you think of it, is easy to grasp: Tax billionaires and redistribute wealth.

Provide government-funded health care and child care for everyone.

Rely less on markets for housing and education.

Empower workers with stronger unions.

The establishment vision is murky.

Raise taxes, but not too high; use government to make health care and child care more affordable, rather than taking them over; rein in the excesses of capitalism without upending capitalism itself.

That's a tougher vision to sum up, let alone rally behind.

"Without question, we agree with the left that we have failed to convince working-class voters that their lives will be better if they put us in charge," Third Way co-founder Matt Bennett told Axios.

"You'd have to be insane to disagree." State of play: A string of democratic socialist wins in House primaries, followed by progressive Abdul El-Sayed's win in the Michigan Senate primary, has set off a debate over whether the Democratic Party is undergoing a transformation.

New York Rep.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the most prominent democratic socialist, is emerging as a formidable potential presidential candidate in 2028.