'Step aside': Ro Khanna urges Democratic 'old guard' to make way after Progressive wins

WASHINGTON, DC: The political landscape of the Democratic Party appears to be in turmoil, as senior party leader Ro Khanna on Thursday, July 2, urged the “old guards” of the party to move aside to make space for the coming generation of the party.

Ro Khanna’s statement came as he celebrated former attorney Melat Kiros’s primary win against 15-term incumbent Rep Diana DeGette (D-Colo).

Ro Khanna calls for bold Democratic transformation

A day after the landmark progressive win in Colorado, Democratic progressive leader Ro Khanna posted a video in which he not only celebrated the win but also signaled that the time of the establishment is over.

“Yesterday was a big night for progressives,” Khanna said in a video posted to the social platform X. “Colorado shows a new generation of progressives like Melat are building a new and bold Democratic Party. It’s time for the old guard to step aside.”

Khanna added that he views the victories won by left-wing candidates as the end of “the era of cliches that politicians deliver with charisma and charm,” which has since transitioned into a “moment of transformational change.”

“Voters want to know where you stand on the tough issues and whether you will fight for real change in our unfair and lopsided economic and political system,” he said.

“Are you for single-payer health care? For taxing the wealth of billionaires? For stopping these foreign wars? For recognizing the genocide in Gaza? For abolishing and replacing ICE? For workers over AI? For money out of politics?” he asked.

Ro Khanna renews criticism of Democratic leadership

The House representative, who has often criticized the party leadership, has once again blasted Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) after eight moderate Democrats strayed from the party to vote for reopening the government after the longest shutdown in US history.

Victories won by Democratic Socialist candidates in New York, Washington, DC, Pennsylvania and California have received warm-to-temperate responses from different establishment Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY), who called on the party to unite after the primaries and remember that the “enemy is Donald Trump.”

“I’ve talked to our leadership. Again, we’re a big party with lots of different ideas,” Rep Ami Bera (D-Calif) told CNN on Monday. 

“That said, we’ve got to come together because this is about putting a check on Donald Trump,” he added.

Chris Murphy welcomes progressive voices in Democrats

Late last week, Democratic leader Chris Murphy expressed that he wants to see the Democratic Party as a big tent that houses the progressive wing.

“I want us to be a big tent party. I mean, I’ve been saying this for years. I think that it’s actually a sign of a party that is alive and growing when there’s a contest of ideas inside the party,” Murphy said.